THE RIMUTAKA TUNNEL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 April 1939, Page 9

THE RIMUTAKA TUNNEL

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I have read with interest the appeal of your contributor, who signs himself “Anon,” in your tonight’s issue, asking the opinion of others as to whether any benefit, and to whom, the expenditure of so much public money will be derived as warrants a new low-level deviation of the present Government’s promise to undertake, as opportunity presents. As a passenger I could have but one opinion—let us have a quicker, shorter and safer route, over the Rimutaka, instanter —but were I a business man, I might pause to think! The advent of the fast motor service we at present enjoy has already shown us that the temptation of making city shopping a fair percentage of its aims, as far as ladies are concerned, leads me to think the proposed quick, cheaper journey to the city will augment the chances of not a few of our smaller business concerns putting up the shutters faster than the vaunted increase of population pulls them down again. In this aspect of looking “a gift horse in the mouth” I may be wrong. On the other hand, I may be right. Therefore, beyond this oblique method of coming to a conclusion that affects me little, as a mere passenger, I yet wish Masterton trade, as well as its population, to increase hand in hand. —I am, etc., “LIVE AND LET LIVE.” Masterton, April 10.