The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, SET. 12th. 1921. THE OTURA TUMMEL.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 September 1921, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian MONDAY, SET. 12th. 1921. THE OTURA TUMMEL.

Tin; very great importance of the Otira' Tunnel to this district, in e'jliilimn with the rest ol the (.’oast, is reason enough to refer to the n.alter to-day. The Canterbury Progress Fragile lias conic to realise in a very convinced manner that the through line is of the utmost importance to that, side of the range. It is satisfn.-tory that this is mi, hut it took a considerable time to wake up Canterbury as a whole to the direct benefit the line was going to he to the East Coast. Fur a long time of con use, various individuals occupying public positions ol importance in Cantorhugp, realised the great value ef the connect ion but there was a long lapse of time heiore the associated bodies of the Fast Coast took the corporate action they are new doing with such energy. It is good to see our friends growing restive at the length of time re(|Uired to push the railway through the mountains and link rip the two main lines. An aggravating set of circumstances has dogged the completion of the line all through, and conditions arose, a.nd aiy still arising. which time alone call overcome. When th,' Fast and West; Coast railway became a probability through the original Midland Railway Co.v., its realisation was delayed hy the kick ol finance on the part of the English C'ov. Then i nsiied a lengthy process of litigation before the Government finally ,rot possession. Next there was the delay in regard to the engineering scheme to discover the best route through the mountain range. Experts were imported and consulted, reports .submitted, and there was much I'ur-

tlior consultation. When this was finally determined, the Otira tunnel contract was determined upon, and eventluijN was undertaken hy a New /calami (’ey. After much delay and the hampering of labor troubles, the U'iitraetors up the task, and the (lovoriinient took on the construct ion work. This all meant le-organisai ion, and there were further crops of labor dillieiilties, Eventually win'll matters were settling down, alone came the war period, and after all is said it is ] erhn.ps something of a womler that work was maintained at any rate at all during that period. We have felt impelled at times to pass strictures upon I In- public works administration o! Sir Will Fraser, but all through the war lie at least, kept the work going. Then es.nie the undermining influence of the Auckland ippnsition which had first mud" its presence fell 'in Sir Joseph Ward's time. This was inure dangerous than most people know of. hut a serious hold up. at one stage was t hroatoning. was avoided, and credit lor that must ho given to the per.-niinl Minister of the time. .Vo sooner was the war period over, than alone came tile fiiia.neial stringeiicy. hut this has not very seriously delayed matters. The delay is now attributed in chief to tlie Hritish eoal sliike boldine up the mnnufnetiire of the electric plant at Home. The present Minister of Pul lie Winks had the courage to accept a very considerable eon'trnet for the elec 1 rilieat ion of the tunnel. „nd the eiilv complaint to he made is that this contract was not arranged for tuiali earlier—by Ids predecessor in point of fact, who was urged to do so over and over again. When Sir Win. lieer tired the hist shot m connection with tin' piercing of the tunnel in August. 1918. the lion, gentlemen at the ercluoiiy at Arthur's Pass, disarmed all clitics by his statement that the line would be in operation in two \ears. Sir William's promise has not been kept. Three years have gone in, and more than another year is to transpire before the lull connection will he in operation. It is very sad thin ;II this delay is taking place. Ministers’ estimates of lime all along have been .-sully wide ol the mark, and the public has to endure the elici t ol these miscalculations. The loss is a national one, for all along the cost of the tennel works is eating its head nil', so to speak, with the interest charges. Thor,, nner was the concentration we Imped lor about the linisfiing tile line that there was. for instance, about Ihe completion of the North Island Main Trunk line. When that work came in sight of completion, work on all otner railway lines in the Dominion was retarded in order to comciitrate on finishing thi' Welliiigton-Aiickland line hy a due date. That organisation was elleetive. Similar orga,nisa.ion would he tin less effective ill icga rd to the Otira t.-nnel completion .and it is no less' ergiiit now than it was in the (lays of eld when the through Auckland line was brought more ipiieklv into operation. Mauv months now could lie saved by similar concentration, and those anxious to push the work through, should themselves consort in urging the authorities to so concentrate in regard to the large amount of work still to lie done, so that at least six months of the present estimated time of completion might he saved.