CHANNEL TUNNEL

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1929, Page 5

CHANNEL TUNNEL

FRENCH ANXIOUS

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

PARIS, January 23

M. Painleve (War Minsiter) has issued a statement that, personally, lie regards the Channel Tunnel as a great and entirely feasible work, and in nowise detrimental to France’s national defence. •

M. Fergeot (Minister of Public Works) says lie sees no reason why the undertaking should not be carried out as soon as arrangements can be made with the French Submarine Railway Company. This is a subsidiary company of the Northern Railways, and it still holds a charter for the construction of a Channel Tunnel, all the earlier provisions and subsidies for tho work having expired. LONDON, January 24.

The French Ambassador, M. De Fleurian, speaking of Sir WL Bull’s Channel Tunnel dinner at the Houso of Commons, said: “I am authorised to say that the French Government is ready when the British Government is ready, to take up the tunnel and make the necessary arrangements. We can not at present do more.” . ;J; Baron D’Erlanger, Chairman of the Tunnel Company, estimated that the passengers within ten years ivould reach four, millions yearly. A fare of sixteen shillings would yield a .gross income of £3,400,000. The merchandise would probably, bring in another £BOO,OOO. The working expenses would be'about £1,000,000.

BRITISH LABOUR IN FAVOUR

LONDON, January 24

The Parlaimentary Labour . Party has adopted a resolution favouring a Channel Tunnel inquiry, and expressing the opinion that the military aspect should not be allowed to exclude the economic considerations, nor the effects df the Kellogg Pact. FRENCH VIEWS. (Australian Press Association) (United Service.) PARIS, January 24. Le Trocquler, ex-Minister of Public Works, presiding at a meeting of the French Tunnel Committee said no technical difficulty in construction existed. The French Association favoured a tunnel thirty-three miles long, with a double gallery, permitting _df better ventilation than a double line and single gallery. • The estimated expenditure was twenty-four millions sterling and time of construction would be six years, and the return journey from London to Paris would be accomplished in day. A law of 1875, granting.a concession to 51 French Association still existed and it only remained for the British Government authorities to authorise a company for exploiting the tunnel, to which the British seemed decidedly favourable.