CHANNEL TUNNEL OPPOSED.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18608, 2 July 1930, Page 9

CHANNEL TUNNEL OPPOSED.

Issue Raised In Parliament. USE OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE PROPOSED. (United Press Association— r Jy Blectrle Telegraph—Copyright.) (Received July 1, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 1. In the House of Commons, Mr Thurtle (Labour) moved a resolution in favour of permitting private enterprise in the building of the Channel tunnel. Half the money .could be raised in France, so the annual cost to Great Britain, for the first five years, would only be £500,000, and the next three years £4,000,000 per annum. Mr Ramsay Macdonald said that he had consulted the Leaders of the other Parties. Mr Baldwin and Mr Lloyd George both had agreed with the Government’s decision. He personally had favoured the Channel tunnel till 1924, but had now reached the conclusion that if it were built, it would make tremendous changes, politically, economically and militarily, which he could not undertake. Private construction, in any case w’ould be objectionable. Such an enterprise should be in the hands of the people, whose fate hung upon it. The resolution was rejected by 179 votes to 172.

(The White Paper issued by the Government early in June, regarding the Channel tunnel scheme announces the following reasons for its rejection:— The element of doubt existing as to the feasibility of construction; the weakness of the economic case; the great cost of the undertaking: the long period before the capital expended would fructify; small amount of employment that would be provided; and the possible diplomatic reaction.)