OTIRA INVITATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 July 1923, Page 5

OTIRA INVITATIONS

“REFORM’S DIRTY WORK.” A CHRISTCHURCH GRIEVANCE (Special to “Star.”) CHRISTCHURCH, July 23. The point as to who is being invited by the Government to attend tho ceremonies connected with the opening of the Otira Tunnel on August 4, was raised at a meeting of the City Council to-night. The Canterbury Progress League wrote stating that the official opening of the tunnel would take place on August 4. The League proposed to hold a dinner in Christchurch in the evening, and to invite the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament, the Chief Railway and Public Works Officers and contractors to be present. The cost of the dinner was estimated at one and a half guineas per head, and as the finances of the function depended upon the number of tickets sold, the League decided to ascertain the names of Councillors who wished to purchase tickets. Cr. Andrews moved that the letter be received, and Councillors be asked to notify the Town Clerk if they wished to attend the dinner. Cr. Agar said that the City Council should be officially represented at the tunnel opening celebrations. A delegation could be appointed for the purpose, the expense to be borne by the Council. Cr. E. J. Howard, M.P., said it did not appear that the Council had received any invitation at all. The motion proposed by Cr. Andrews was carried by 12 votes to 5. Cr. Howard: Have we received any official invitation to the opening? The Mayor: No. Cr. Howard: I understand that a certain number of councillors had been invited. Was that as Councillors or as private people? Cr. Beanland: I received one privately. The Mayor: Mine was in my own name. Cr. Agar: I was invited as President of the Commercial Travellers’ Association. Cr. Howard: It is quite patent that what the Government has done is to invite men of their own side. Councillors: No, no. Cr. Howard: It is quite plain the Government invited men of their own party, and none from our side. I have got all I want, and I will raise the matter in the House. I understand six councillors have received invitations. Cr. Winsor: I received one. Cr. Andrews: As a Councillor? Cr. Winsor: No. Cr. Andrews: I did not receive one at all. The Mayor: Mine was addressed to me in my personal name, with ‘Mayor’ added. Cr. Howard: It’s Reform dirty work. The Mayor: Oh no. Cr Howard: Oh, yes. This closed the discussion. TAKING OVER CONTROL (Special to “Star.”! CHRISTCHURCH, July 24. The opinion that there was a probability of the Railway Department taking over the control of the Arthur’s Pass section of the Midland Railway from the Public Works Department, on the day of the opening ceremony, was expressed by a railway official to-day. He stated that he was not in a position to say definitely, but he thought it highly probable that a statement dealing with the position would be made soon. The effect of transferring control to the Railway Department as soon as the Tunnel is opened, will be that freights will be charged on the one section system only. THE NEW TIMETABLE. CHRISTCHURCH, July 24. There will be a saving of two hours fifty-two minutes in the journey between Christchurch and Greymouth when passenger trains commence running through the Otira tunnel on August 6. „ ~ The new timetable has been finally adopted by the Railway Department. It provides that on and after August 6 the present 8.35 a.m. ChristchurchArthur’s Pass and 2.20 Arthur’s Pass Christchurch trains will not run, and that on Monday, Tuesday, Thursdays, and Saturdays, a train will leave Christchurch at 9.5 a.m., arriving at Greymouth at 4.15. This train will connect with the trains from Reefton, Blackball, Hokitika, and Dunollie, and also for Rewanui on Saturdays ami for Ross on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. On Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, a train will leave Greymouth at 1015 a.m. arriving at Christchurch at 5.38. This tram will connect with trains from Hokitika, Rewanui, Reefton, Blackball and also from Ross on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The new timetable has been so arranged as to give the people of the West Coast the principal benefits of the time saved, as the result of trains going through the tunnel.