HOMER AVALANCHE DISASTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 12

HOMER AVALANCHE DISASTER

Sir, —I was astounded to read in your columns on Wednesday the reported remarks of Mr. Semple regarding the second disaster at the Homer Tunnel. That a Minister of the Crown should stoop to such a statement that this undertaking was a legacy from the last Government, and that lie should seek in such a way to "step from under" is quite unjustifiable. If Mr. Semple had the conviction after the first accident that the job was too dangerous to continue with, or that when finished would prove too dangerous for touriiV' traffic, why did he not stop it then and hang the cost, if tho lives of so many people were being placed in jeopardy? And. in view of the last accident, why did Mr. Semple not arrange to stop the work before the dangerous period which he emphasises commenced? He stated that ho knew the undertaking from personal inspection and -realised its hazardous nature! The boot would be on the other foot, no doubt, when the praises of tourists began coming in, and Mr. Semple would be among the first of his Government to modestly admit that they were responsible for opening up additional attractions among the won' ders of the South, which, as everybody knows, could be safely visited only during the late summer months. H atioxal Party.