OTIRA TUNNEL.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1518, 14 August 1912, Page 7

OTIRA TUNNEL.

PETITION FROM CONTRACTORS,

LABOUR DIFFICULTIES. 4.SIC GOVERNMENT TO TAKE OVER Tin; WORK. Messrs. Murdoch M'Lenn mid Neil ll'Lean,'.carrying oil business under the style of "John M'Lean and Sons," coiir tractor, and "John M'Lean. and Sons, Limited," yesterday petitioned Parliament regarding tlio Otira tunnel contract. They state that in August, 1907, they accepted the contract to do the work for the sum of .£599,701. They go on. to'state that, prior to.their entering into the contract, they entered into a contract for the cohBtVuction of llurWelliiijjoii Graving Dock; that"' in the initiation of tho works of these ; cohtracts, in the acquisition'of the machinery and plant necessary •to carry on the same, and in general preparatory ■works and otherwise,' they employed, tho whole of their available capital.-' Finding that; such capital would bo quite inadequate to carry oil the contracts, a company was formed, and ,£<15,000 additional capital was raised by the issuo of <15,000 preferential shares of £1 each, the petitioners, 1 Murdoch and Neil MLean, receiving for tho capital invested by them in tho contracts 85,000 deferred shares of .£1 each. Tho whole of the capital has now )>een exhausted in the enrrying on of tho works, n.ntl the shareholders refuse to find any further capital for tho work. The petition goes on to refer to tho difficulties in connection with the labour necessary for tho works. Despite,the fact that they liavo paid considerably higher wages on tho contract than those fixed: by mining awards in tho:-: Dominion, they have been unable to obtain a eulriciency of labour to properly. mail the works of tho contract. They also state that they have been,: unablo to obtain from tho labour employed, tho results that their long experience as' contractors' satisfies them should have been achieved. They axe con-, vinccd that there is not availablo in tho Dominion to a private contractor a siilHciericyiof the:labour.requisite for tho efficient'and': profitable'carrying .on of tho Ivor Its contemplated by .the .contract, and that .thero .is:, no. possibility under the present labour conditions of any private contractor obtaining the necessary labour in tho Dominion or elsewhero id the present time, or in tho immediate future. Petitioners''havo. brought tho whole of their wide experienco into practice in the carrying oil of the 'works, and have iteed every means in their power to successfully and: profitably completo tho samo, but have go far failed in so doing. They gratefully acknowledge the financial and other oaastance given , by , tho Government to them when desired by'them, in order to assist them in carrying on of tho works, but' petitioners are afraid that such assistance will.not liavo tlio effect so confidently anticipated by them when obtaining : . such assistance. Petitioners • have expended to dato in connection with the works of tho contract ,£59,581 in excess of all pioneys received from the Gpveniment on every account whatsoever. They feel, that under all tho circumstances connected with tho contract the Houso shoul'l take into its favourable ;con<sideration the position.'of petitioners with n;vio,w. to relieving them from tho contract, and authorising the Gpveniment to take over from them tho works thereof and tjie machinery and, plant, used -and- employed therein .on ..fair and cquitablo terms. ,