HOMER TUNNEL WORK

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19340, 2 June 1937, Page 12

HOMER TUNNEL WORK

MUCH ABOVE ESTIMATES

QUESTION OF COMPLETION

SUGGESTION OF INQUIRY

(Per Press Association.) DUNEDIN, last night. The recent cessation of work at the Homer tunnel and the transfer of men has given rise to some speculation whether the undertaking will ever be completed, or whether it would not be desirable to seek an alternative route to .Milford Sound. A further alternative put forward is that the work should be started from the West Coast side of the tunnel, thus giving better facilities for draining the water away and making the haulage of debris easier than is possible up the present grade of 1 in 10. It is two years since work was begun on the tunnel, and the magnitude of the unexpected problems that have had to bo faced can be gauged from tlie fact that it was originally estimated that the project would be completed in 27 months. With 24 of the 27 months already gone, the tunnel has been driven no more than 500 ft. of the total distance of 3960 ft., or approximately threequarters of a mile. While the Alilford Sound road is of particular interest to Otago and Southland, it has a general interest for the whole Dominion, inasmuch as the taxpayers as a whole must hear the cost. The original estimate of the cost of theroad was about £225,000, which included £70.000 for the tunnel, but it is possible that the latter figure has been already exceeded. In view of the whole situation, it is suggested that it would appear to he advantageous that a full inquiry should be made into the scheme, and that a report should be furnished to the Alinister of Public Works, which could be released for the enlightenment of the taxpayer. Should the Government intend embarking on any alternative proposal, the country is entitled to be similarly informed and given some idea of the cost and the duration of the work.