THE CANAL SCHEME.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14042, 13 May 1911, Page 9

THE CANAL SCHEME.

HON. J. A. MILLAR'S REMARKS CRITICISED.

Whilo tho Hon. J. A. Miliar was at, Lyfctolton on Thursday ho remarked that tho canal scheme was a mad-headed proposnl, and tfcat som© tamo ago an engineer told him it was his opinion that it was nothing but suicidal for anyone to depart from a harbour liko Lytttlton that had such splendid opportunities for increasing ite berthago. The remarks of the Minister were brought under tho notioe of Mr A. Ivayo, a member of tho Canal League. He said that even tho opponents of the scheme, while objecting to the expenditure at the present time, were frank enough to say that they considered that sooner or later tho canal would be demanded and earned out. The feasibility and practicability of tho canal had been demonstrated by one of tho finest marine engineering firms in the world, and that was a very great point gained. It had often been overlooked that the landward aspect or tho scheme was never submitted to this firm for investigation and opinion—m fact they were warned not to touch on that aspect of the question, and it was from that point of view that the matter was of such vital importance to tho interests of North Canterbury. Doubtless Mr Millar, as Minister of Railways, had in mind tho large sums annually derived from the passenger and railway rates on the Lyttclton line, which, in all probability, would bo diverted from tho Department into the pociets of tho citizens. Ho forgot the room at Christchurch station was already very limited, and that were the canal scheme carried through a large area could be obtained at very little cost in the vicinity of tho proposed docks, -vs-here all tho shunting wanted in the working of the yards could be carried on under most advantageous circumstances, so that in the end, while some of the revenue for the i time being would probably bo diverted, the Railway Department would find the alteration decidedly advantageous for their traffic as a whole. Mr F. E. Jones, president of tho Canterbury Chamber of Com- ! uicrcc, said the canal project had been judged to be perfectly fcasiblo by others than the Hon. J. A. Millar's friend —namely, Messrs Coode, Son and Matthews, who were a capable firm of engineers. "If Lyttolton Harbour," ndded Mr Jones, "will accommodate our shipping without undue delays and without our being penalised by tlio Railway Department, then I think the business community are at one in the opinion that it is unnecessary to go outside Lyttelton. If another harbour is to be built, as tho Board's engineer estimates, tho wisest thing would bo t<> build one where tho expenses of landing goods into our stores would bo reduced instead of increased. No doucb that any scheme that would rob the 'Government of tho opportunity of drawing enormous revenue from the six inilov ftf railway between Lyttelton and Christcluirch, would bo considered mad-. i headed by the Minister."