PROGRESS LEAGUE.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18684, 6 May 1926, Page 8

PROGRESS LEAGUE.

DISCUSSION, BUT NO ACTION DANGERS OF MONOXIDE. The new aspect given to the proposal for the cutting of a road tunnel through to Lyttelton, by the report published in last Friday's issue of "The Press," was discussed last night by the executive of the Canterbury Progress League, and dealt with in a report presented to the meeting by the League's Organiser, Mr P. It. Climie. No action was taken, the report being "received." "A new phase has been given publicity during the last lew days, and propositions have been made by a group oi young business men, dealing witn the building oi a tunnel for motor traffic and a highway from the tunnel to tho City," said the chairman, Mr J. H. Blackwell. Also, he said, sundry improvements had been mentioned. The Progress League had held a series of conferences, the result of which was a decision, at a culminating big conference in favour of tho improvements to railway facilities, and the progress of Port Lyttelton. Other schemes also had been considered, including-a road for motor traffic through the hill. But the meeting decided in favour of railway and port improvements. Since then the voice of Canterbury had been unified by the efforts of the League, ana* the Prime Minister promised, a yeai or two ago the duplication of the tunnel. Since then a number of public-bodv men in Canterbury had unanimously agreed that in place of duplication they

should accept electrification of the tunnel, and improvements of the railway between Lyttelton and Middleton. That was the position as it stood to-day. They looked forward to the early put-ting-into-effect of the Prime Minister's promise. "The Press's" Attitude. "In, 'The .Press' of Friday last a new element was introduced, winch, although not fresh, brings in another phase of the question. Our organiser nas gone into the matter, and will present a report," concluded Mr blackwell. Mr Climie's report consisted in great part of a dissertation on the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning, and the difficulties of keeping such.a tunnel clear of this gas, which is given off in the exhausts of internal combustion engines. He argued that if the road-tun-nel were to prove as useful as its advocates hoped, so much carbon monoxide would be generated by motor vehicles passing through that the atmosphere within would be permanently charged with sufficient monoxide to induce unconsciousness in less than half an hour. He suggested that drivers, and other persons passing through would have to be provided with respirators 1 Mr Climio quoted authorities also to show that there might be danger from explosions of air mixed with monoxide, combined, possibly with smaller percentages .of marsh gas. He cited other authorities also to show the difficulties of expelling the noxious gases from the tunnel..

The Discussion. Mr A. F. Wright asked if Mr Olimie had gone into the question of using Diesel engines run on crude oil. Mr Climie replied that the same objections as he had raised wduld apply also to Diesel engine traffic. A number iof Diesel engines passing through the tunnel in one day would cause serious trouble. Mr G. T. Mulcock: Is this an opportune time to discuss tho road tunnel at all? It is out of place. We will weaken our case considerably, and should leave the matter well alone. The chairman: The question is one of public interest, and has been given considerable publicity in one of our morning papers. All public spiritod men are glad to see a public question taken up by members, of the younger generation. It was considered by the executive that an opinion should be expressed. We have already taken a definite line of action, and unless strong reasons are projected why we should not adhere to our decision, we must stick to it. Reorganising Lyttelton. Mr W. K. McAlpine said the question was one of tho reorganisation of Lyttelton. It meant pulling the port to pieces, and re-building it. "We are finding it a hard job to berth all bur ships now." Mr E. H. Webb said that previously he had thought that the Diesel engine had no limitations. But he had now found that there was danger in it. He agreed with Mr McAlpine. Mr McAlpine: What we want is more goods-sheds in Christchurch. Mr G. T. Mulcock moved that the road question be left alone, and they go on with the question of electrification, and urge the Government to immediately proceed with their declared policy. "We must not let it go out that the League can be swayed by every wind that blows." Mr J. A. Flesher: It's no use always going on re-affirming. There is a strong body of opinion in Christchurch which does not agree with the League. He moved that Mr Climie's report be received. Mr Mulcock said that Mr Flesher'a motion was very vague. Mr W. Goss said that the first thing to do was to be loyal to the Government. If they discussed even the possibility of a rival scheme that would be disloyalty to their previous decisions. Mr Mulcock did not press his motion and Mr Flesher's motion was then carried unanimously.