Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17th 1919 DILLY-DALLYING.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 17th 1919 DILLY-DALLYING.

The Government still refuse to grapple with the Otira Tunnel completion as a great national work demanding instant attention to assure its earliest readiness for through traffic. The large Canterbury-Wesll and deputation which waited on the Prime Minister and Minister of Public Works on Saturday was again put olf with platitudes and empty promises. There was nothing disclosed of an aggressive policy to push the work through with rapidity so that the country could get the benefit of the expenditure on the work, as well as the utility of the work itself for the interchange of commodities and the fjaicilities for .a greater and readier volume of transport. On the contrary there are signs that the work will dilly-dally as before, a continual reflection on the business accumen of the party in power which fails to realise where revenue may be earned or trade expanded to the material benefit not only of th© two provinces directly concerned, but of the welfare of the Dominion as a whole. Probably if Admiral Viscount Jellieoe were asked to give an expression of opinion regarding a coaling station for the Navy he would pick upon Lyttelton harbor, which will be drcctly connected with the West Coast coalfields once the Otira „ tunnel is through. Looking to the importance of naval defence, the completion of the tunnel both for greater effij riiency and economy is a matter of the highest importance. But all Sir W. Fraser couM say was that the tunnel will be completed as speedily j as possible and yet he makes no sug- ’ gestion of exhausting possibilities to ‘ finish the job with any speed 'beyond the present rate of progress. Rather , he throws a damper on the situation by declaring the hydro-electric power will I b© available before the tunnel was completed! This seems to put the com- ' pletion off indefinitely, because it is doubtful if even a decision has been j reached regarding the utilisation of I water power to work the tunnel traffic. ■ Sir William lias stated that steam power is to lie installed temporarily at | first, and as auxiliary or standby plant Inter, for the working of the traffic, bnt even this installation is not being gone on .with, in fact a site does not appear to have been determined upon. This idea has 'been in ,the air for many months, and it is believed that the expert advice is that the steam power plant should be at Jacksons, so as to use __ electric power for the grad© up to the tunnel and through the mountain to Arthur’s Pass. By using electric power over this stage, more frequent trains can be run, and in this connection a double traffic line from Jackson to the tunnel mouth has been suggested. Jackson has been proposed as a site for the power plant, because of its nearness to the coalfields whence fuel must be obtained. Special combustion engines are spoken of so as j to utilise the poorest quality of coal, ■ and thus minimise cost. But all these proposals have been talked of for | months, and there is no outward and visible sign, nor definite statement, that anything practical is being done to accomplish what is necessary. The Minister maintains that everything has been done to push the work along, but .Seeing is believing in this instance, for there is not any sign of any special effort. The Government is not rising to the occasion. It is neglecting a great opportunity in this and other matters where enterprise and pushfulness are required to show a real interest in the inational welfare. Very soon Sir William Fraser will discover that the folk can get angry as well as he, and an annoyed public will not be placated with empty platitudes