CHANNEL TUNNEL SCHEME.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 190, 13 August 1925, Page 13

CHANNEL TUNNEL SCHEME.

COIIPANY'S AXXUAL MEETING. The ordinary fjpneral meetinir of the i iiannel Tunnel ( Dmpany. Limited, was held in London iin June 24. Baron Emile B. Ctlie chairman' said: '"(rentlenien, you are all aware that the matter of "the channel MinnH construction u ; h brought before tiie Cabinet, and that ir was resolved by the then Ministry to place the question '•!!■■" more lie: ire the Committee of Imperial Defen.v. This wa- done, and im< were informal that the committee ;:.'.! rejected the idea for the time beingof allciwinjr a bill to be promoted, or at !.>:•■« of assisting in any way in the promotion of a bill, r may say that we wore very greaitly disappointed with the d■ , .M-ion of the Committee of Imperial Dr-'cnce—not only with the decision itself, but with the way in which the matter was dealr with. Xo reasons were jr:ven to the public or to ourselves as to ihe irvouin's upon which thp committee ■•ame to irs decision, and. of course, a deeUim jriven without any reasons i-n-i; on* with which a body like our own can .ope. ff certain reasons had been pus forward, if certain statements had liecn challenged, if certain fears had been admitted, then it would have been posFible for us to try to combat those reasons aud to allay the tears which the committee of Imperial Defence mlfrht have had. bur a decision without any comment- whatsoever upon it- leaves ufor the time being disarmed. "T take it that the faithful friends of the channel tunnel are die-hards, and that we are not dead yet. There is nothing for us to do but to husband our resources, to arm ourselves vvith patience, and to wail for such time as may be more propitious for bringing the matter before the Government again, and to try t<) influence, public opinion in our I'vour. So far a= public opinion is concerned, I really think that it does r. it want much influencing. I believe tiuit we have public opinion with us up tv a point, and f feel certain that we have members of Parliament in a jrreat majority with us. with the same reservation."