ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16155, 8 March 1918, Page 6

ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

THE PROPOSED DEPUTATION

LETTER FROM MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS. In the city yesterday it was fairly common property that the Mayor (Mr li. Holland), in his capacity of president of tho Arthur's Pass Tunnel Loague, had received a reply i'rom Sir \\ illiam Fraser, Minister of PubJ lie Works, to a communication forwarded on behalf of tho League, asking for an appointment for tho roception of a deputation on the question of speeding up the completion of tho tunnel. Mr Holland, when seen on tho subject by a representative of "The Press," was not ablo to give any information as to tho contents ot the letter, which was marked "private and confidential." Mr Holland stated, however, that tfto letter would be placed before a meeting of tho executive of the League, to bo held this morning. Reference was made to tho Minister's letter at tho meeting yesterday afternoon, of the Statistical' Committee of the League, the chairman (Mr H. Quane) remarking, in connexion with statistical information that had been prepared, that tho meeting of tho executive, called by tho Mayor, on receipt of iSir William Eraser's letter, might upset the committee's arrangements, and tho committee might lind that all its work had boon in vain. Mr Cyrus J. li. Williams, who stated that ho had seen the Minister's letter, concurred with Mr Quane's view, and said that the outcome of tho meeting of the executive might considerably affect the committee's work. It is understood that the main point in Sir William Fraser's letter i.us to do with tho question of the necessary labour in connexion with tht< work on the tunnel, and that the Minister takes up the position that if tho League can assist him to obtain the class of labour required, lie is quite willing and anxious to push on as expeditiously as possible with the completion of the tunnel. MEETING OF STATISTICAL COMMITTEE. The Statistical Committee of the Arthur's Pass Tunnel League met yesterday afternoon, Mr H. Quane presiding. Mr J. Wyn-Irwin submitted tables giving comparisons between freight and mileage rates, and spoke at some length on the savings that would f>e effected 011 the carriage of timber and coal once the tunnel was completed. Mr W. M. Tyers also submitted considerable detailed statistical information relating to the tunnel, and to tho cffect on the trade of Canterbury when it was completed. The chairman referred to the letter from Sir William Fraser, Minister of Public Works, received by the president of the League, and pointed out that the effect of to-day's meeting of the executive might be to render the work of the committee unnecessary. Votes of thanks were accorded Messrs Wyn-Irwin and Tyers for the information they had compiled. WORKERS STILL ON STRIKE. FACTS OF THE DISPUTE. ___ ! (FROM OCR OW>- CORRESPONDENT.) OTIRA, March 7. . Tho strike which took place at the tilnnol (Otira end) on Monday continues. It appears that some weeks ago, owing to dry weather, tho management was forced to use the huge steam plant to generate tho electric power necessary to tho working of tho tunnel, in doing this, one lamp room boy was called upon to fire two of the boilers of the plant. This, the boy stated, was beyoud hiui, as he has a crippled hand. 'he management then informed him that he would be replaced at tho first opportunity, as his injury was not received. 011 the works. f <n Friday lost the boy was dismissed, and replaced by another youth. TJIO union immediately informed ti-.e management that it would cease w.»rK on Monday if the lad was not .einstated, maintaining that the work he was called upon to do was a man's work, and beyond that expected from any lad; aho that when the agreement was drawn up liv the Otin Workers' Union the steam plant wan not in existence, and as the rate of pay received by lamp room boys was onlv 7s per day, the firing of the boih-rs was worth a great deal more. The union is now endeavouring to secure a new rate of pay in regard to firing the boilers. As the chief engineer (Mr A. Dinnie) has been absent from Otira for the last few days, very little has nee 11 doiv> towards a settlement.

Tno Canterbury Otira Tunnel League was informed of the facts, and promised to send two delegates early next week to enquire into affairs. The League advised the men not to lose time, but to return to work, and it would endeavour to have matters settled. The mop. seem determined to see the matter through.

Mr F. W. Furkett, one of tbe chief engineers of the Public "Works Department, Wellington, is expected to arrive to-night to enquire into the dispute. Great- disappointment is felt on the West Coast about the strike, which is the second within a month.

Only chains of the bottom heading remain to be driven before tho tunnel is pierced, which should lie about the end .of this year. The country passed through during the last three weeks has been the softest yet met, but at present it shows signs of hardening up again.

PAYMENT OF WORKERS

In connexion with the strike, the Mayor (Mr H. Holland) telegraphed yesterday asking to be advised whether the men had resumed work, and stating that he desired tbe information in order to be able to report to .the meeting of the executive of the Arthur's Pass Tunnel League to-day. Last evening Mr Holland received the following reply from the secretary of the Tunnel Workers' Union: —"Impossible for men to start work until we receive an answer from the Minister. We have been advised that Mr F. "NV. Furkett, Inspecting Engineer of the Department, will arrive at Otira to-night." At the meeting of tbe Statistical Committee of the Arthur's Pass Tunnel League yesterday afternoon, Mr W. M. Tyers referred to the importance of the labour question in connexion with the completion of the tunnel, and advocated that the men should be paid a special rate to compensate them for the difficult .yid unpleasant nature of the work they were called upon to perform. Even if they were paid an extra 10s per day Mr Tyers contended that they could be kept working for a full year at a cost of £'3500—a comparatively small consideration as compared with the loss in interest on the uncompleted work. The chairman (Mr H. Quane) remarked on the dangerous effect on the labour and wages questions that might follow on the adoption of Mr Tyers's | suggestion.