RIMUTAKA TUNNEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 August 1938, Page 6

RIMUTAKA TUNNEL

AN ESSENTIAL NATIONAL WORK. OPINION OF MR. J. F THOMPSON. Passing reference to the Rimuutku tunnel was made by Mr J. F. Thompson, Nationalist candidate for the Wairarapa seat in an address at Greytown last night. Mr J. H. Irving, candidate for the Masterton electorate, and myself,” he added, “strongly support the undertaking and agree that it should be proceeded with as soon as possible.” Mr Thompson recalled that he had been the first speaker on three deputations urging on Governments the necessity for putting in hand what he considered a most important and definitely economic work. An assurance had been given that the tunnel would be constructed on the completion of the Tawa Flat deviation. The plant and machinery from that job were to be shifted to the Rimutaka Hill.

Mr Thompson said that the route now decided upon was the one selected by the Coates’ Government. Unfortunately the slump came when the Tawa flat job was finished and the then Government did not have the money to construct the Rimutaka tunnel. “If, I should say when,” he added, “Mr Irving and I are returned to office we will push the project for all we are worth. It is essentially a national work and will prove a valuable factor in the defence of the country as well as providing an easy outlet for goods and other traffic from the Wairarapa and the East Coast districts and will relieve any congestion on the other coast.

“That tunnel must come and when it does it will be a great boon and a benefit to the Wairarapa and the whole of the East .Coast.” (Applause.)