ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14513, 20 December 1912, Page 4

ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

PROBABLE SUSPENSION OF WORK. A WEST COAST PROTEST. DEPUTATION TO THE MAYOR. A deputation of West Coasters waited upon the Mayor (Mr H. Holt'id) yesterday, to enlist his assistance, and that of the city and of tho ijrovince, in support of tho request to be made to the Prime Minister that work on tho Arthur's Pass tunnel should not be suspended pending the calling for and tho acceptance of tenders for the completion of tho work. The deputation to the- Mayor consisted of Messrs J. Grimmond (chairman Westland County Council), T. W. Bruce (Mayor of Ross), P. J. Evans (Westland County Clerk), B. Hill Fisher (president Canterbury Chamber of Commerce), Hy. Quaiie, H. J. Marriner, and Albert Kaye. Mr Quano briefly introduced tho deputation. Mr Grimraond said that they understood that the Government intended, to declare its policy regarding the tunnel before the end of the year. At present'tho work was being carried on by tho contractors under a Government guarantee which would cease on December 31st. As the matter affected botli the West Coast and Canterbury the deputation fished to have tho assistance of Canterbury in advocating the necessity for keeping tho work going on instead of suspending it till tenders were called for. Ho pointed out that business and passenger traffic between the Coast aud Christchurch was rapidly increasing and just at present booking had been stopped on both coasts. On Wednesday, when the members of tho deputation came over, t.iere were 87 passengers, 140 were booked for Friday and 150 wero boosed for Monday. In view of this Mr Cassidy had stopped booking passengers from the West Coast. Referring to tho Arthur's Pass tunnel, Mr Grimmond said that at present it was more than half finished, and it. would be utter madness to leave it unfinished. The deputation was to interview tho Prime Minister and the Minister of Public Works at 11 a.m., to-morrow, and they desired tho assistanco of Canterbury in urging that J the work should not be stopped. Mr Evans, in supporting tho deputation's requisition, referred to the fact that there was a lot of opposition j to tho Midland line in Dunedm and in ! tho North Island. Mr Marriner. said that the opposition was not from many members of Parliament. Mr Kaye said that there was no doubt that tho old cry would bo repeated:—"lt will never pay." Thero was now a chance to controvert that statement. Tho deputation should bo sup- ' ported and well supported by Canter- ! bury. Looking at it as a business proposition it would be absolutely ridiculous and absurd to stop tho work on Iho tunnel. Mr Bruco said that there was a probability that tho work would bo stopped for two months, and if j iho work were once stopped t.ifv did not know whdn it would be started again, consequently it was desired that tho Government should enter into an agreement with tho McLean Brothers to keep tho work going on. Ho referred to the waste that now occurs in tho 'handling of coal and timber —waste that increases tho price •to tho consumer, but which would be saved if the coal and timber were I railed direct from tho pit and from I the sawmill. Continuing, he said that tho flax industry was being re-started on tho West Coast, and tho Govern- [ ment grader had expressed the opinion that tiie finest fibve he had dealt with was from Wataroa, Westland. Tho I butter and cheese industry was also Lccoming established, and already there wero six factories thg West: , Coast, and threo more ."companies had been formed. As tho bush was cut down for timber, people were settling on the land, and turning their attention to farming. They were making butter to-day in Kumara. As. they knew, at present, Canterbury was not supplying the West Coast; the trade was with Wellington. Tho Coast still belonged to Canterbury in religious, judicial, and other matters. They had always found Canterbury land and decent neighbours, and ■ they still liked to think that they belonged to Can- : terbury. No railway in New Zealand had been taken up after having been laid down because it was unpayable, and they were satisfied that the Midland Railway was a paying proposition equal to any in New Zealand. If they desired they could point th« finger of scorn to tho North Island lines which according to the figures relating to the latest four-weekly period showed, a decreased revenue of £11.000. Mr Hill Fisher a-sked how long it would be before the bush was cut out? Mr Bruce said that it would take about 200 years. There was bush for 200 miles by five miles wide in Westhind. Canterbury people did not know tho possibilities of the Coast. The Coast had things that Canterbury wanted, and Canterbury had things that the West Coast wanted. Mx Hill Fisher asked if fliey thought representatives from Christchurch should accompany the deputation? Mr Grimmond said that they would be glad if they could do so. Mr Quane 'said he thought it would be advisable to emphasise the national character of the work, apart from tho. benefits it would bring to Canterbury and tho Wwi Consi. ■, Tho Mayor: You cannot dissociate tho national aspect from the Canterbury and West Coast aspect. Mr Quano thought the deputation would bo wise if they could also see the Acting-Minister of Defence and General Godley. Within the next fivo or six years occasion might arise for the absoluto protection of the coal supply. In tho event of war the difficulties connected with the transport of coal from the West Coast would be very great, whilst if there existed internal communication between the two coasts the whole of the South Island could bo sure of coal and timber supplies. They could see by various inferences in recent cable messages that there was labour unrest and war unrest, and they would bo able to rest more secure if there was internal communication between East and West Coasts. A strike of miners at Newcastle would stop all importations. Taking into consideration the fact that the embankments in connection with the Arthur's Pass tunnel were made, and that the plant for the boring of the tunnel was installed, it was safe to say that at present more than half the work was done. Mr Marriner suggested that if no representatives from Canterbury could bo sent, the different local bodies and associations should be- asked to strengthen the hands of the d©puta» tion by forwarding telegrams in sup. port of the deputation's request. Mr Kaye suggested that the Government should bo asked to ertend its present arrangements with the McLeans till March 31st nest. Mr Bruce said that the McLeans ' could find work for fifty additional men i if they conld get them, but they were I not obtainable. Mines on the "West I Coast would work double shifts at present, but men could not be got. Tho Mayor pointed out that harvest •was coming on, and men would be still more difficult to get. Replying to Mr Marriner, Mr Bruce said that even if the shipping companies trading to the West Coast reduced their rates, coal and timber would still be sent by rail owing to the saving that would be effected by reducing the number of handlings. Tho Mayor eaid thai he would be

very pleased to carry out tho suggestion that local bodies and associations in Canterbury should make representations in support of the request iLe deputation intended makius to the Government. Ho was sure that he was speaking for Canterbury wliea he said that Canterbury stood shoulder to shoulder with the West Coast and was absolutely solid on the question. Ho was afraid that it was possible that work at the tunnel would on or about the 24th iiist., and he quite agreed with the view of the deputation that it would be difficult to get the work started again. Canterbury and Christchurch would protest against any cessation of -work at the tunnel, because it was recognised that the completion of the work was just as important to Canterbury as it was to the West Coast. Apart from the national character of the work, it would bo suicide to let the money already spent on the tunnel lie idle and not »>arn a cent of interest. The work must go on to completion. None of the Christchurch men present were able, owing to their engagements, to accompany the deputation, and it was decided to carry out iho made to forward representations to Wellington in time to to of use when the deputation waits on tho Prime Minister on Saturday morning. It was also decided to ask the city members of Parliament to make similar representations.