ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1578, 5 March 1919, Page 2

ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

DELAY IN COMPLETION. RESOLUTIONS OF PROTEST. Strong dissatisfaction with the lack of energy that the Government is putting into the work of completing the Arthur's Pass tunnel was voiced at a meeting of the general committee of the Tunnel League, held in Christchureh vesterdav afternoon. Mr 11. Holland, Mayor of Christchurch, who presided, said that it was now nearly a year since they had first visited the tunnel. At that time three shifts had been working, but now there W'ero only two. He quoted from the "Abstract of Statistics" to show that, whereas last January there had been 2(39 men employed in railway construction in the South Island, there were at the close of the year only 252. In the North Island, on the other hand, the number had increased from 710 to 1064. While the southern work was being held back, the department could still find men for railway construction in the North Island. It seemed to him that the time had come when they must say nasty things if they would have ,any notice taken of them. The time had come for the league to consider the whole position. For one thing, they might take into consideration the advisability of affiliating with the • Canterbury Progress League. It was time that the Government concentrated on a lew of the principal lines and got those completed. If, as was stated, they could not get men, why in the name of goodness did they want to be pottering about with about 00 bits of railways, instead of concentrating their energies? He felt that they must blame the members of Parliament for allowing Cabinet to act like this. Surely 80 members of Parliament could dictate to Cabinet how the public works of the country should be carried on. Only by determined, persistent and constant activity could they achieve anything. Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., pointed out that every one of the 80 members was pushing the wants of his own little corner. One of the most vicious things about their public v/orks was that, whatever Minister was in, he had to piece out his expenditure to the various electorates.

Mr E. C. Huie submitted that the public works policy of the Dominion, pressingly in need of reform though it might be, was hardly their concern just then. The Progress League was having a conference with Canterbury M.P.'s about the 19th inst. He suggested that it would be a good thing if the Tunnel League were represented there to enlist the sympathies of the Canterbury members. The reason the department was not getting men was that it would not pay them current wages. It was little short of scandalous that this great national work should be allowed to drift along in such a fashion. Mr Hiram Hunter supported this view. The Minister had stated that he would not pay more than 11/- a day, but it was asking too much to ask men to work under the conditions at Otira at that wage. Dr H. T. J. Thacker, M.P.:"Tliey only want 35 men to finish in six months.

Mr H. IT. Smith opposed any suggestion to link up with the Progress League. Let the Progress League work also, but let the Tunnel League retain its own identity to work hand in hand with Westland. Regarding the wages, Mr Hunter had been right. Women were living up there under bad conditions, and the men had to pay through the nose for all provisions. If the Government paid a reasonable wage, plenty of labour would offer. The league should demand that this great national work should be pushed on to the stage of productiveness. Speaking in reference to the electrification of the tunnel, Mr 11. J. Marriner said that the Chamber of Commerce was keeping the matter before the Minister. His reply was that several schemes had been submitted and were under consideration. That practically meant that the matter had been shelved. It would only be an excuse for further delay of a year or so when the tunnel itself was completed. He considered that the Government might easily increase the wage to 15/- per day and take on another 100 men, who could easily be obtained. That would be an increased annual expenditure of only £15,000. Now the Government was losing £40,000 per annum in interest alone, and in the last 10 years must, have wasted close upon three-quarters of a million of money. Apart from that, as soon as the tunnel was through, there would be saved to Christchureh for coal alone thousands of pounds, which now went into the pockets of the shipping companies.

Dr H. T. J. Thaeker, M.P., said that at the time of the meeting of the tunnel heads the foremen in the tunnel had told him that 'with 35 or 40 men more they could finish the job in six months. His idea was to put on 50 extra men and make the "inside tunnel" wage £1 per day. Then in six months, for between £15,000 and £20,000, they could have the work finished. That would save between £60,000 and £70,000 a year in interest and sinking fund. Messrs Wm. Goss and 11. 11. Smith were of opinion that in a resolution it would be better to ask an "adequate wage'' than to specify a figure. Dr Thaeker then moved and Mr Smith seconded: — "That this meeting demands the immediate completion of the Otira tunnel and to that end urges the National Cabinet to offer adequate wages to the workmen at the tunnel." The Hon. J. Grimmond, M.L.C. (Westland) expressed the opinion that the Government could not be anxious to complete the work or it would push it on. Mr L. M. Isitt, M.P., while expressing members' willingness to do all they could, said that the real fact of the matter was that they would get no common-sense way of constructing their New Zealand railways until the whole policy of their public works system was altered and the whole matter lifted above politics alt6gether.

Mr Win. Goss asked what had the league itself done. He considered that they had been most neglectful. They had taken the Minister's word that he was as anxious as they were to finish the work. Beyond that they had held a few meetings and done nothing. They should agitate, find out what was being done, and demand to know the position. It was a great pity that Mr Parry should be leaving before an electrification scheme had been definitely decided on, and they had been given an assurance that the order for the machinery had been placed. Also, they should waylay every Minister as he passed through the city. Mr 11. Langford considered that general resolutions were not sufficient. Those should be closely followed by definite questions as to what was being done. Mr Wm. Goss then moved: — "That, as the matter is of such tremendous importance to both the West and East Coasts of this island, this league asks for information as to the electrification of the tunnel as follow: — "(1) Has a definite scheme been decided upon? "(2) If not, how soon .will one be decided upon? " (:i) How soon after a decision is come to will the order be placed for the plant?" This was also carried.