THE OTIRA BUNGLE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1584, 30 October 1912, Page 4

THE OTIRA BUNGLE.

The discussion in the House of Eepresentatives yesterday afternoon on the report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the petition of Messrs. M'Lean Bros., prating to bo released from their contract in connection with the Ofcira Tunnel, was most disappointing. Members apparently were quite unable to see that there is a very large and important principle involved in the proposal to release the contractors from their obligations. It is quite natural that there should be some

sympathy felt where heavy losses are sustained, but are contractors with the Government to be placed in the position of being able to cry "heads I win,_ tails you lose," for that is what it amounts to. If a contract turns out successful, the contractor is to enjoy the profits of his undertaking; if he finds he cannot make it pay, he is to be permitted to drop the work, and be freed from the obligation he entered into. Messrs.

M'Lean Bros, have, we believe, been unfortunate in this contract; but the Government will be establishing a very dangerous precedent if it now gives effect to the recommendation of

the Parliamentary Committee, and sacrifices its just claims under, the undertaking entered into by the contractors. It is impossible to believe

that the Committee could have given this matter the careful thought which its importance warranted, and

we fear from tho tone of tho Minister for Public Works that the Government also is taking an erroneous viow of its responsibilities. It ia not a question of dealing harshly with the contractors—no one wishes

to do that—but a question of dealing fairly by the country and with an eye-to avoiding the possibility of future embarrassments. Turning to the question of the continuance of the work, we are equally surprised at the attitude of members. Apparently it seems to be regarded as inevitable-, that this foolish and waste-

fill work shall bo pressed on with because a substantial sum has already been sunk in it. Mit. Lee, for instance, who is usually a very clear thinker, argued that "if the line was not completed there would be a dead loss to the Dominion year after year of interest on that money." This is quite true; but supposing the line is completed, what then ? The interest will still have to be paid on the sum already sunk, nnd on the further money that will be sunk in completing it. That loss will go on, and in addition to it there must bo a still fut'tlier loss on the cost of working the line. No responsible person, we think,' has attempted to show that the line will pay. Which, then, is the better for the- country: to cut the loss already incurred and be thankful that, it, is no greater, ox to gc on addiiu to that loss while at

the same time hampering development in other parts of the country where railway construction is.needed and will pay '1 We doubt very much whether there are a dozen members in the House who really think this line is necessary or evon desirable. It is a huge white elephant, which has cost the country much, and will cost it still more. Yet the.House and the Government apparently arc going to allow themselves to be persuaded on partisan evidence that the work should l>o pressed forwa-rd, and the already heavy annual loss arising out of it greatly swelled. The least that members should insist on is that there should he an investigation of the position by a competent Commission, which could be relied on to view the matter from the national standpoint and without regard for the parochial interests affected.