LETTER TO MINISTER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8396, 11 March 1916, Page 2

LETTER TO MINISTER.

EAItL 1' COMPLETION 1- Xs RGED

j CJIiUS'J CHURCH, March 11. The Railways Sectional Committee 'of the Chamber oi Commerce has sent the iollowing letter to the Minister of t Public V\ roj-ks, and has asked the cooperation ol the members of both Houses oi Parliament and kindred associations: — "Having read the report oi' the deputation ol workers and others interested in the Otii a tunnel which waited upon you recently, this chamber views, with considerable alarm any suggestion of curtailment of this most important work. While we appreciate the difficulties you may be beset with, we dcjsire to'earliest!y press upon you the value "of the early completion .of the work. " You are no doubt fully conversant with the importance of the completion of the tunnel from its commercial value to Canterbuiy. the West Coast, ami to the Dominion, in opening up the natural resource's of the West Coast, as well as bringing into earning a completed work as against a work stand!ing partially unfinished and nnproducI tive. ' < . v "Fioni a naval and military point of view aou will also recognise the expediency' of having through communication for military movements, and also connecting both coasts with our coal mines. "We trust., therefore, that you m your judgment will have this necessary work completed as speedily as possible, as being not only of consequence to Canterbury and the West Coast, but also of niueh greater importance to the Empire."