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Hokitika Guardian, 6 February 1922, Page 2

The report of the Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, attached to the Public Works Statement does not give much information relative to the progress with Arthur’s Pass tunnel. The report compiled in July last indicated good progress with the lining at the Otira end while the lining at the Bealey end was nearing completion As to the position regarding the equipment, Mr Furkert stated:—“A large quantity of permanent-way material has arrived, and a start is being made with the plate-laying. Contracts have been placed with British firms for the equipment and locomotives required for the electrical operation of the railway be--tween Otira and Arthur’s Pass Stations. The contracts include the supply and erection of steam boilers' and turbo-generators, workshop equipment, poles and overhead wire construction, and the electric lighting of the tunnel. The materials under manufacture in England aTe well advanced, and! a. commencement has been made with the installation of cables in the Arthur’s Pass Tunnel.” In the debate on the Public Works Statement, the Hon. Minister (Mr Coates) spoke guardedly about the line being ready to operate in a year’s time. The statement did not disclose much indication of a speeding up move and unless there is a strong and sustained agitation, the opening up of the line may drift on to Easter twelve months. It will too bad if this occurs. If the desire to speed up is brought home to the Government and by them passed on to the British firms contracting for the electrical equpment of the tunnel time can, surely, be gained. The works are said to be progressing rapidly now so far as the Public Works Department side is concerned. It will be really with the contractors, with whom delay will transpire. The Government w r ill be expected therefore to urge the firms concerned to push the work of delivery and construction ahead. It will be an opportunity for the British firms to demonstrate their celerity and anything in that direction will be appreciated by those who have waited so long and so patiently for the final completion of the railway.

Teh raid on leasehold lands by the Reform party continues. In the Land Law Amending Bill passed by Parliament last week at the behest of the Reform Government with its dominant majority, even the endowment lands of

the country are being raided to provide the “freehold” for the faithful supporters of the Government. When Sir

John McKenzie in the Seddon regime llouiglit for the preservation iofi 'the leasehold principle as the soundest security for the country’s future, it was thought a great victory had been secured when the endowment lands were set aside, and to seal the bargain as it were, the revenues from these Crown areas were to be devoted to national education and pensions. Now it is proposed that national endowment land held under pastoral lease or license for a term of over fourteen years, may bo removed 'from the category of national endowment, land by prodama tion, and made available to be acquired under freehold title. This means that the eyes will be picked out of the endowment lands, which will become freehold, and cease to be revenue returning to the Crown. In this way the land passes from the endowment it was for State purposes—the adI vancement of State Education and the | maintenance of national old age penI sions—and becomes the private profit of the lucky freeholder who appropriates the annual profit which should accrue to the public at large. The tendency of Reform to raid public lease-hold land for personal and private profit is tho greatest defect we see in the political policy of the party in power, and is the main ground for our inherent objection to the Government. Yet the public continue supinely indifferent to the great national loss going on from yea>r to year by the wider creation of the freehold tenure.