THE TUNNEL.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18182, 19 September 1924, Page 8

THE TUNNEL.

REPORT NEXT WEEK. MR 3IASSEY FORECASTS EARLY START. YESTERDAY'S DEPUTATION TO MINISTERS. (SPECIAL TO "THE PRISS. ) WELLINGTON, September 18. Canterbury members of Parliament waited on the Prime Minister and the Hon. J. G. Coates to-day to present formally the resolution passed at the recent meeting in Christchurch regarding the Lyttelton tunnel. Mr L. M. Isitt, who Toad the resolution, said that no doubt the Prime Minister would think they 'were very like the importunate widow, but he would admit that their importunity was ■justified. He explained that the meeting that had passed the resolution was a very large and representative one, and included people from the West Coast to Dunedin.

Mr Massey: It is quite evident that Dunedin and the West Coast have no

grievances. Mr Isitt replied that the duplication and electrification of the tunnel would benefit the whole country, even to the extent of lessening the bread bill of Auckland by some thousands of pounds a year. He urged both the duplication and the electrification of the tunnel, which, ha added, would change a discontented people into an admiring centre of population. Mr J. McCombs spoke at some length as to the advantages of electrification, and quoted figures that he had previously given. He hoped that if the experts reported favourably on electrification, the Lyttelton line would be the first to be electrified. The Hon. D. Buddo said he wished to impress on the Prime Minister the payable nature of the line. Canterbury was not getting fair treatment. It was now a matter of urgency to alter the present state of affairs. . Mr G. Witty said the Prime Minister was sympathetic, but sympathy would not mend a broken leg. Mr Massey: But your leg is not broken. Mr Witty: No, but Canterbury's is.

Mr Massey: Oh, no. Mr McCombs said that at the meeting some blame was attached to the Canterbury members — Mr Massey: Hear, hear. Mr Forbes: That's the worst thing of aIL (Laughter.) Mr McCombs (jocularly): Yes, because at tho meeting no Parliamentary representative was allowed to speak. He added that as the member for Lyttelton lie had taken a special interest in the tunnel, and he urged that it should be electrified. He quoted figures showing that Auckland had had alarge expenditure on railways as compared with Canterbury. Mr D. G. Sullivan said that with due modesty he would refrain from speaking, in tho hope that the Prime Minister would tell them when the Government proposed to start the job.

Minister's Statement. The Hon. J. G. Coates said that shortly aiter he, at Mr .Massey s request, had taken aver the portfolio or "Kailways some 12 months ago, h© had discussed the tunnel question with the members of Parliament, and the Chamber of Commerce in Christchurch, and as the result of the meeting he had cided, in view of the fact that there were so many requests for railway improvements all over the country, that the best thing would be to obtain a comprehensive general report and then tackle the matters that were most pressing. He had promised to make a statement after the Prime Minister returned from England, but several things had come in the way—the strike, etc. — and these had greatly interfered with their investigations. However, the matters referred to would be dealt with in the annual report, and in a separate paper at which the Prime Minister had already had an opportunity of looking. The greater portion of the report was in print. It had been a fairly big task, and had meant a hard year's work, not only in regard to tho survey, but also in regard to the many problems that had to be dealt with. Mr Sullivan: Will it give a definite indication of the time ? The Minister: I would prefer to leave that to Mr Massey. I think the papers I have referred to. will provide the proper way of making the details known. If we give a date now we will have every place in New Zealand wanting to know when their work is to be started. You will get the papers next week. .Other Districts' Claims. The Minister added that there were many other districts to be considered besides Canterbury, and the Auckland papers had been writing about railway improvements there. But they knew no more than they in Christchurch what was actually going to be done. He could assure the deputation that, so far as he was concerned, he was only too anxious to givo comfort and convenience, and he recognised the disadvantages that were connected with the Lyttelton tunnel. Both duplication and electrification were dealt with in the report. They had to have surveys and reports, because once they started on sucii works it would mean millions of expenditure, and the Government had taken up the position that they must have first-class advice before starting on the job. (Hear, boar.) In regard to the amount of money spent in Canterbury, tbey must not overlook the fact that a great deal had been spent on the Otira tunnel, and the Lake Coleridge works. The Coleridge works had been a thorough success. They had been in tho nature of an experiment; now they were spending more money in getting increased power, and he had no doubt that the work would be a still greater success. The report that would bo presented in regard to tho i ailways would bo comprehensive in its character, and it would deal with the works in the order of importance. Prime Minister's Eeply. Mr Massev said that so far as the resolution tbey had presented was concerned, he had already read it in the newspapers. He took no exception to it, because it was courteously wonied, and it set out clearly and concisely the opinion of the meeting. Neither did he take .any exception to the speeches at the meeting, as they were not abusive; neither had the speakers indulged in wild and extreme language (Continued at foot of cext column.)

such as they were accustomed occasionally to hear in Parliament. (Laughter.) Mr Sullivan: I notice you turn to the Minister of Public Works when you say that. (Laughter.) Mr Massey: I was thinking of someone else all the same. (Laughter.) Mr Massey said, it was his desire to do justice to all parts of the country if possible, and Canterbury had had a great deal done in connexion with Coleridge and the Otira tunnel. Leaving the tunnel out, it was a question whether Canterbury was not ahead of any other part of the North Island in so far as railways were concerned. Hon. J. G. Coates: Hear, hear.

It was a fact, continued Mr Massey, that most of the North Island was very much worse off in so far as railway conveniences were concerned. Mr Witty: Not the largo centres. Hon. J. G. Coates: Yes. Business is blocked for want of proper appliances and conveniences.

Mr Massey said that in so far as the Lrttelton tunnel was concerned he did not think he ought to say more than Mr Coates had said. He would liko to see tho work started as soon as possible. He hoped t'nat Mr Coates and himself would soon have the opportunity of congratulating them on tho commencement or the work for which they were asking. He did not know when it would be finished; that was another

story. The Hon. J. G. Coates added that his report would also deal V.-ith iho marshalling yards. In» that respect there va- s a change frojn the original report.