OTIRA TUNNEL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2732, 29 March 1916, Page 7

OTIRA TUNNEL

AND PREVAILING MISCONCEPTIONS

STATEMENT BY MINISTER

"There has been a great deal of misconception regarding my attitude .towards the prosecution'of tho Otira Tunnel," said tho '■ Minister for Public Works (the Hon..W. Fraser). "I have never directly or iudirootly, authorised either tho entire stoppage, of the works or a diminution of tho number of men employed thereon.'

"I,realised, however, that it was very probable that ero long the latter course might havo to be adopted for two reasons: First; the,; engineering one of pushing on the lower headings from both ends until they meet. I am illformed that the point of such meeting should be at least a quarter of a mile ahead of the: widening and lining at eaoh end, for the purpose, if necessary, of correcting any error m levels or .alignment.' Moreover, as soon as tho lower headings have met, all difficulties of ventilation .will cease J all the spoil from the whole tunnel m\\ be taken to the Otira end by gravitation, the pumping now necessary at the Bealoy end will be entirely obviated, and several other conveniences and economies will accrue. Now, the widening and lining of the tunnel can be carried out as fast, if not faster, than'tjie lewei - headings; hence' in order to ensure that the latter should bo at least a quarter of a mile ahead of'the completed tunnel it is evident that work on widening and lining must either'stop'for a time, or at any rato be carried on at a slower pace. "The .second reason is the financial one. At the present rate of expenditure the vote on tne Estimates for this work will be all exhausted by March 31. What assurance can L have .that" Parliament will at the ensuing ses'sion grant a further loan for public works? If not, ( then this railway line and all of the others on tho schedule of railways must corne to a standstill. I. will money in hand for, the construction of roads and.bridges to last me for the.host part of next year, but little or nothing for railways, and even if a moderate loan Is.granted it is inevitable.that a reduction in expenditure: must take plaoe. "In view of the engineering problem, it was my bounden duty to obtain tho fullest information on tne subject, and this may have given rise to the impres-" sion that I was about at onco to' reduce work,6n the tunnel, and possibly to stop it altogether.' My reply to tlie deputation of employees-gave no warrant for such an assumption. They wanted me ■to give an assurance; that the." work would, proceed at the' same rate until completed. L very properly declined.itb do this for the reasons already adduced. Important-asit is to complete this tunnel, it certainly is not tlie only im : portant railway in New Zealand 1 . -Meantime, work is proceeding as. usual, and will continue to do so until tho financial aspect of the.question is settled, when' the question ,ol pushing the ■ lower/ headings on to the necessary' limit in front of the lining must be also considered. At present the widening and lining is almost up to the heading. "Let me add that the only public work in New Zealand where it is necessary to use high exxJosives is the Otira Tunnel. I had a stock ; of this in baud sufficient to last me for .seven or eight months,' arid fortunately quite lately secured an extra two and a half months' supply.' The Imperial Government has prohibited the export of high explosives to the Dominion except fdr'coal or gold mining. The High Commissioner has been cabled'to endeavour, to obtain per-; mission for the 'export of .sixty cases'a month of high explosives,, solely for the use of the Otira Tunnel. So far I have received no reply."

EARLY COMPLETION talGEI).'

v. By Telegraph—Press Association .

: Chrlstchuroh, March 28. . A deputation of : members of Parliament , and- the West .' Coast Railway League waited on Sir Joseph Ward today, and urged that the "Otira tunnel should be completed, -without: delay. Speeches were made by Mr.'Bruce, of the' West Coast League, and by Canter, bury members', urging the undesirability of tapering off the work, and that such a huge amount of capital spent should not be left unproductive. -The work should be the last in Now Zealand to bo stopped.. . Sir Joseph Ward, in a very -sympathetic .'reply, ; stated that the Publio Works Loiwi tad to carry on,to the end of 1917.. He assured the deputation that the Otira,tiumol would receive a fair share of; publio expenditure.'