ARTHUR’S PASS TUNNEL

Hokitika Guardian, 9 June 1923, Page 4

ARTHUR’S PASS TUNNEL

PROGRESS OF EBKCTRICAD CONTRACT.

CHRISTCHURCH, June I. A report on the position of uurk at the Arthur's' Bass tunnel was presenteel tei the executive of the Progress l.eague last evening i.y idle organiser .Mr P. il. C'htuie). .Mr Climie reported that be Intel found a considerable amount of prngre -> had liven made v.ith the elcc-tii.-al I'.nitrai t since his last Visit, but it was hardly pen-sihlc for anyoone who v.tis not in constant touch with the work to say wheiher the rate of progress had been satisfactory or not. vine' there were so many factors which niiis: be taken into consideration. ID' estimated as Ihe result of his observation that the electrical installation would be 'lltficiemly advanced to allow trains to run through the tunnel within i hfv- necks "I Iho date of bis visit (.May 21). P. would not be ne.-u-.-ni \ to cninpictc the- olectriticnti.'l! of the sidings to permit of this being done, but only that portion of the work relating to t lie main lines, lie was surprised lo find tliar none of the Railway Department's permanent staff bad yeL Lake ii up duty at ! lie Power S'-t----eioii. The machinery lin'd been in-iali-cd for many month' pasl. and it was ale iL should have-a reasonable period of initiation at lie' hands of the eonI raetors’ exports Ik-fore the latter

finally handed over the plant. Il was also disappointing m .iiiil that the i raining of the Railway Department's loco drivers had not been continued beyond tin' preliminary training they received e.t Addington during the assembling of the last locomotive. Tt loci been stated by the department that at least six v.eeks' driving- experience must be given to the drivers before they could safely be permitted io handle passenger traffic and it was very desirable that this . training

) should commence as early as possible - if the opening of the tunnel for pns- > sengor traffic was not to he unduly do. ’ laved, it was regarded as especially > important thi-it before handling pas- ; smiger trains, the drivers should have accustomed themselves thoroughly to Ibe task of braking trains on the downward grade from Arthur's Pass to (.Kirn. It was true that the service locos were not ready for use at ibe time lie made his visit, ns they were affected by damp on the voyage from Kngland and bad not been thoroughly ‘-dried out.” Hut the battery locomotive was ready for use and ill bis opinion could have been used for preliminary training purposes, .-inc-e the control and braking systems wore very similar to those on the service locomotives. While the contractors made no complaint about Die conditions under which they are working. .Mr t limit? gathered from other sources, and from his own observation, that their work was being consider,aly hindered ami delayed tlirough the lack of proper coordination between the various authorities. The section covered by Hie electrical contract included portions of the main line under the control of the Hailway Department in addition to that portion which was still under the control of the Public Works Department, and over and anon the electrical contractors were obliged to cease operations to allow tli*- work of both these departments to be carried out. While some of these interruptions had probably been quite unavoidable, he felt that some of thorn could have been obviated, bad all work proceeding on that section been under the control of one supreme authority. One instance of the delay and confusion thus occasioned came under his own notice when he was at Arthur's Pass. The electrical sub-contractor and his men wore engaged in installing an overhead cable on the main line on the section under control of the Hallway Department. At about 10.30 a. Ol. they were told to move their plant from the line in order to allow a locomotive to run up to the Arthur's Pa-s station, and the electrical staff ban to remain idle until after 2 p.m., when the loco returned clown the line. This was one specific instance of work being interrupted by tiie Railway Department. Other instances could be quota.] in which work had been delayed in a similar manner on tire section of '!.•? line still under the control of the Pub lie Works Department. There were already indications I'm. 1 ' the present system which made ' the Public Works Department respond bio

for the construction of hew 'ratiwnj s might possib'y lead to compliest jus. It had been a general experience, I.c believed, that the Public Works Department's ideas of railway comiruction were not invariably those of Hie Railway Department, and that when a railway was taken over by the latter department there was generally some delay while it rearranged matters to its own liking. The Railway Department was already equipped to undertake quite large feats of railway construction, since it has to he ready to repair damage to opened lines, however extensive, and it would appear to bo a matter of common sense logic for the Railway Department to build its own lines to suit itself in the first instance. That, however, -was a large question, but it was introduced because it had a practical hearing on the matter under discussion.

After his return to Christchurch from Arthur’s Pass Tunnel (Mr Climie continued) he visited Wellington to interview the Prime Minister and departmental officers concerning the opening date of the tunnel and the form of ceremony which was to tako place. He reported io the Prime Minister concerning his observations at tin' tunnel works, dealing with the difficulties above mentioned, and referring also to the delay ill sending tin l permanent railway siatT ami loco drivers to Otira. Mr Massey at once gave instructions that matters were to be expedited. Mr Climie al-n interviewed the Minister of Public Works, the Hon J. G. 'Coates, who seemed very anxious lo get iho railway finished. hi conversation Mr Conies sng-

gi'sied ih.it in the event ol tin' official opening taking plan' during iho coming session of Parliament, it should he held on a Saturday so as not hi interfere with the work ol Parliament. There seemed io he some doubt as to what form the ceremony should take, and as lo who should arrange it. After seeing the Minister. Mr Climie proposed a joint interview with the Minister of Railways. and the Engineer-in-Cliiel of the Public W'orks Department, together with the engineer supervising the elect idea! contract, with the idea ol discussing matters in eo'nneetioii with the opening ceremony, and he lengthened histay in W'ellingion for that purpose. The remainder of .Mr Chinio’s report Mas taken in committee.

Alter a long discussion in committee Ihe president Air \Y. Ti. M’Alpine) said there was nothing to report. The organiser's report was received. A letter Mas received from the Westland Chamber of Commerce forwarding a copy of a resolution passed at a meeting of representatives of local bodies in West la lid protesting against tardiness in the completion of the tunnel works and against lack of eel-ordination between the two Goveminfill. Depuri meats concerned am! urging that the Railway Department should undertake ihe construction of new railways. Mr 11. J. Marriuer said ihero was a great waste of public money through i be, lack of m-ordinatiou complained of mid through political bias. Tt was lime' public bodies throughout New Zealand joined together anil saw that improve-meil! was effected. It was decided to refer io the incom-

ing executive the Wcsilaml suggestion that iho Railway Department 'should undertake wholly tile construction of all railway lillCS. DCTtme ■ssasc^asßaxxaesses:rxra