OTIRA TUNNEL.

Otago Witness, Issue 3101, 20 August 1913, Page 27

OTIRA TUNNEL.

OPPOSITION TO CONTINUANCE. AUCKLAND, August 15. Expressions of opinion regarding the Otira tunnel wore given during a discussion today at the annual meeting of the Auckland Railways League, Mr Kennedy Hill, who is not a member of the league, said that he had boon informed that he could move a resolution. Ho moved —“ That, in the opinion of this meeting, the continuance of work at the Otira tunnel is detrimental to the best interests of the dominion; that the money now being expended will give no profitable return, while if it were used for affording the means of communication now wanting in districts such as the East Coast, where there is an abundance of fertile land, an immediate and profitable return would ensue; that in consideration of the general feeling that prevails throughour, the dominion against proceeding further with the work, no provision should be made on the Estimates for its continuance; that this resolution shall bo forwarded to the Minister of Public Works for early and fa,vou cable consideration. ’ ’ The motion was iccondcd by Mr T. H. Lees.

Mr E. 0. Banks moved the substitution of tho resolution carried by the league two years ago, asking the Government to spend £2 on the northern railways for every £1 spent on tho southern lines, until tho mileage should be equal. That resolution, ho said, went to the Ward Government and . was simply laughed at. The Mayor (Mr C. J. Parr), who presided, j ruled tlia't tho amendment was out of j order. After considerable discussion, dur- | ing which members were found to support the motion and others to champion the continuance of the tunnel, the mover of the resolution withdrew it, and this closed tho discussion. i