DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1641, 19 May 1919, Page 8

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER.

MR MACDONALD SYMPATHETIC. After the Canterbury party/in company with the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald, had completed their walk through the tunnel on Saturday, the Minister was waited on by a deputation, consisting of Messrs H. Holland, H. H. Smith, and W. Goss, in regard to tunnel matters. Mr T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P. for Westland, was also present. The deputation urged on the Minister the desirability of trying to secure the services of the Tunnelling Corps, recently at the front, for work at the tunnel; the need for working two extra shifts at the Otira end, and one extra shift at the Bealey end, so that the whole 24 hours might be worked; and the desirability of the Government's deciding quickly concerning a scheme for the electrification of the tunnel, so that the plant could be ordered at once. The deputation pointed out that during the four years ended 1917, 15,000,000 ft of timber had been exported from the Coast to Lyttelton. On this a freight-saving of 3/per 100 ft could be effected by the completion of the line. This would amount to £22,500 per annum, and at a freight of 1/9 per 100 ft the railways would receive £13,125. Mr Seddon also urged the completion of the tunnel.

In reply, the Minister said that he was sorry to say that some of their northern friends thought the work a waste of time and money. He had recently travelled down the West Coast from Murchison to South Westland, and he saw there an absolute paradise awaiting development. Anybody speaking in deprecation of the tunnel was not speaking in the interests either of the West Coast or of the Dominion. He was satisfied that the tunnel project was amply justified. He did not think that there was any other public work so important. ■