The Star. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1919. THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12569, 5 March 1919, Page 4

The Star. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 1919. THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

♦ . The importance of the Otirn, tunnel fco Canterbury nml Wcstland is fully realised in those two provinces, and tho description of this great work as a Dominion undertaking is fully subscribed to by the provincial populations. It is a fact, however, that tho tunnel has incurred the hostility of some other districts, particularly in the North IslandThe tunnel has been condemned as an' extravagance, and succcssi\<o Govern-

ment.s have been assailed for authorising expenditure on it. However, the construction work is now approaching completion, and it is inconceivable that any opposition will be ablo to stand in the way of its being put into commission in the near future. The trouble which confronts Canterbury and Westland is the scarcity of labour on the work, and the evident reluctance of the Minister of Public Works to take such measures as will lead to a reasonable concentration of effort. There was a disposition at the meeting of the Arthur's Pass League yesterday to blame the local members of Parliament for not forcing the hand of the Government. Tactics of that sort, however, would be strongly resisted both by the Government and by members representing other provincial districts. If the Canterbury members formed a. "union " to boost the tunnel in the House, the Auckland, Wellington and Otago members would assuredly follow suit in interests of their districts, while the Government steered a safe courso by compromising with each of the contending parties. The Canterbury members have no more power than those from other parts of the Dominion, nnd too aggressive action on their part would simply be voted out. Where they can assist, however, is in altering the present system of public works construction. The system lias not a solitary defender, and if the Canterbury members initiated an, honest attempt to reform it they would meet with a great deal of support. The widely-diffused labour at present employed on the building of a multiplicity of railways would be concentrated on three or four of the most important lines, which would be completed rapidly, and put into profitable use for the benefit and development of the country. The present system is wasteful, extravagant and excessively slow. The same thing may be said of the larger public works in the way of roads, tunnels and bridges. Some of these are 'being merely tinkered with, instead of being tackled with the best machinery and the maximum amount of skilled labour that could be employed on them. It stands to reason that the country is losing heavily on works which mighthave been completed long ago, but are still being advanced by hesitating steps instead of leaps and bounds. The argument in favour of concentration of constructional resources is no new one, but so long as members of the House countenance the present system it will not get a chance. The members have tho power to insist on a change, .and we are confident that if it were proposed, and backed up by a solid following, the Government would speedily surrender to the pressure.