ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16156, 9 March 1918, Page 8

ARTHUR'S PASS TUNNEL.

.MEETING OF LEAGUE EXECUTIVE. DEPUTATION TO MINISTER. The execuihe of tho Arthur's Pass? Tunnel League met yesterday morning to consider the reply received from Sir Wm. Eraser, Minister of Public Works, to the League's request for the Minister to receive a deputation regarding the speeding up of the completion of the work. Tho meeting wont into committse, and later the Mayor (Mr H. Holland), who presided over the meeting, communicated the following report:— The Hon. the Minister of PublicWorks made a suggestion that instead of the deputation going to Wellington, it should meet him in Christchurch on j the 2Gth inst.. the proceedings to be either in committee or in public. The executive decided to accept the Minister's suggestion, and will arrange for a, large deputation to meet him on tno date mentioned. The Minister's letter was not available for publication. The executive further decided that owing to the fact that the men on tho tunnel works had not resumed work, the League could not see jts way to send a deputation to enquire into tie general conditions of labour on tho works. Reports were received from the different committees, and they were authorised to. go on with_ the campaign. The Propaganda Committee was empowered to have printed 10,000 pamnhlets describing the advantages that will accrue to Canterbury when the tunnel •is completed, and a similar number of charts showing tho progress made ■with the work. STRIKERS STILL OUT. (FHOM orn OWN CORBESrONDKNI.) OTIKA, March 3. In connexion with the strike, there was an interview to-day between Mr Furkert, Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Wellington, and delegates of tho Tunnel Union. The union still maintains that lamp room and such light work should lAs done by youths and men disabled on the works, and objects to one bo* being taken for the steam plant, munh heavier work, and tho other two worisinfr twelve hours per shift. The management has little to say. but is submitting a report to Wel« lington. The men, meanwhile, are deter mined. The question of an increase of _wag.?i has not been raised by the union or the management.