THE CHANNEL TUNNEL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 922, 15 March 1930, Page 9

THE CHANNEL TUNNEL

JOB SHOULD BE DOME BY I PRIVATE FIRM ! EXPERTS PRESENT REPORT j British Official Wireless Reed. 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, Friday. The report is issued of the Economic Advisory Council of the English Channel tunnel committee. The report says that the feasibility of the construction of a tunnel under the English Channel depends on the nature of the ground to be tunnelled. Geological and engineering difficulties are likely to be encountered, but they could probably be successfully overcome. There must, however, remain a feeling of doubt regarding the practicability of constructing the tunnel until a pilot tunnel, estimated to cost £5,500,000, has been successfully driven righ under the Channel. The committee finds that none of the new forms of cross-Channel communications suggested to them can be regarded as a satisfactory alternative to the Channel. The cost of construction of the actual tunnel is estimated at about £25,000,000. The committee considers that on economic ground the work should be carried out by private enterprise, and not be accorded any special financial assistance by the Government. DETRIMENT TO INDUSTRY The. committee believes that the tunnel could be built, maintained, and operated by private enterprise at a cost which would permit traffic through it being conveyed at rates not higher than those at present in force on the short cross-Channel route. . Lord Ebbisham signs the report subject to a minute of dissent, the general conclusion of which is that even if the tunnel could be buiit, maintained, and operated by private enterprise, and if it could carry traffic at competitive nates, any resultant advantages are uncertain, and at best of slight extent, while on the other hand the evidence- submitted has I shown that there would be definite ! detriment to established industries, i such, for instance, as shipping and i __