GREAT TUNNEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23061, 11 June 1938, Page 14

GREAT TUNNEL

£1,000,000 PLAN

RIMUTAKARAILWAY LENGTH OF FIVE MILES TASK TO BEGIN SOON [BY TELKGUAPIT' —PRESS ASSOCIATION] WELLINGTON. Friday The construction of a railway funnel five and a-qunrter miles in length through the Kimutaka Bange, at an estimated cost of approximately £1,000,000, has boon approved by tho Cabinet, according to an announcement by tho Prime Minister, Sir. Savage.' The tunnel will be practically the same length as the Otira tunnel, which is the longest railway tunnel in the British Empire. It will run from Mangaroa to Cross Creek. The deviation will shorten the distance by rail between Wellington and the Wairarapa by eight miles and, in addition to eliminating existing sharp curves, it will replace gradients that range from one in 15 to one in 28 •with an easy gradient of one in 60. Revolutionary Methods Mr. Savage said there had been a report on this project in 1930 and there had been representations made to the Government by deputations since then. That report estimated the cost of the tunnel at about £1,000,000. Some part of tha£ might be less and some might bo more, lie continued, but it was estimated that the cost would be about that figure.

" The job is going to bo done and the approaches will be started pretty soon," the Prime Minister said. "As a matter of fact the Minister of Public Works, Mr. Semple, told me he could make a start with them almost right away. With the men and machinery we have at our disposal we will bo able to revolutionise this undertaking compared with methods that were followed in the past." Important District

When the tunnel was put through it would be the means of tapping a very large and important district, which was at considerable disadvantage at present. " The wonder to me is that they ever tried to get over the hill at all with a railway," said the Prime Minister. "There is more to bo done than make figures to show whether the railways are paying or not. You have to tako into consideration the areas to bo tapped and the development of the country through which the railway passes. They can say what they liko about the railway system, but if a proper balance-sheet was made, crediting the railways with values for which they are directly responsible, there would bo sufficient revenue to pay for the railways two or three times over. Instead of that people bought and sold land and they got rich and it was almost painted on the clouds that the railways were not paying. Transport Development

" Wo have set out not only to develop tho railways, but also motor transport," added Mr. Savage. "We want the best form of service we can get, whatever it is, but most people would find littlo difficulty in imagining the disaster it would be to New Zealand if the railway system was stopped tomorrow."

The desirability of better means of access to tho Wairarapa has been advocated for many years past. The alternatives suggested to the' present railway route have been a tupnel or a line striking out toward the coast and skirting the foothills of tho Riinutaka Range. Apart from the arguments in favour of improved access, it has also been argued that improved railway facilities will enable the line to relieve traffic from tho East Coast instead of it using tho Manawatu route, as at present. Earlier Reports ol Engineers

A deputation representative of Wairarapa and Wellington interests waited upon the present Government in May, 1936, and made an appeal for better access to tho Wairarapa by rail. On that occasion tho Prime Minister replied that the new rail-cars then contemplated were expected to 'remove at least a portion of the disabilities from which the district was suffering. Mr. Savage also suggested that it might prove more economic to boro a hole in tho hill. THE MILSON DEVIATION 50 MEN TO START WORK [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN COKIirsrONDENT] PALMERSTON NORTH, Friday It is expected that 50 men will commence preliminary work at Milson within tho next few days in connection with tho Palmerston North railway deviation programme. A statement to this effect has been made by tho Prime Minister, Mr. Savage, to Mr. J. Hodgens, M.P., who approached him urging that a start bo made with the undertaking.

Mr. Hodgens said that, following his representations, the Prime Minister had given instructions that 50 men were to start at Milson at once, expressing surprise that work had not been begun already. It was recognised that the deviation would provide a highly suitable avenue of employment during the winter months. Mr. Hodgens stated that the big earth-shifting machinery for use on the Milson undertaking is at present on the water. For some time past surveyors iiavo been at work on the sito resurveying the area, and, although- a start has not yet been made in assembling the machinery, tangible evidence of progress is to be expected in the immediate future.