WORK AT OTIRA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2709, 2 March 1916, Page 6

WORK AT OTIRA

QUESTION OF CUTTING DOWN OPERATIONS j A MATTER OF GENERAL ECONOMY MINISTER AND THE MEN Anxiety exists amongst the Otira tunnel workers as to the possibility of the works being closed down or considerably reduced in magnitude, and a deputation from tho union waited upon the Minister of Public Works yesterday to learn bis intentions, and .to urge that the impending retrenchment be postponed. Tho-members-of the deputation were Messrs. 11. Beban and J. Nicholas, and they wero accompanied by Mr. ,T. Glover, of the Federation of Labour. Tlio deputation claimed to speak not only for tlio workers but for the storekeepers and other inhabitants of Otira. They said -that -they' had hoard that a very large number of men would shortly be put off the works, and as practical men t.hey could see tbat the plan of operations had been altered in such a way that it would be impossible to keep all the men on. As they explained, there arc always seven gangs of workers in tile tunnel. The advance gang shoots out a drive lift, by 7ft. Following them are the breaking-down men, who shoot down the top to mako passage about equal to the calibre of the tunnel when completed, Following these come other gangs cleaning up, and finishing off .the tunnel, and laying tlio track. The complaint against the managemcnt at present is that the breaking down work lias been ceased, and that tho other workmen will do all that it is possible for them fo do in about three jveeks, and then the works would have to stop except in one small place, "the bottom 'heading," which would occupy about 30 men. A reason urged ugainsf; tile closing of the works was that there were a very good lot of men on the job now who were doing tho work cheaply and well for the Government. If tlieso men were sent away now, and a new lot of men collected at some time in the future, the new men would have to learn their work at tho Government's expense. It was also argued that if only the bottom heading was to be worked the Government would have to run all their olectric nlant. the compressor'plant, and all the hands in these departments, as. well as tho clerks. It would not be possible'to reduce expenditure in those branches, and the result achieved would be smaller. Who Shall Deolde? "I want to. tell you this," said Mr. Fraser in reply, "that- the Otira tunnel is about the only work in the Dominion, or at any rate ono of the few works on which there has so far been no alteration at all. I can also tell vou this: That I have resisted a good deal pressure from many parts of the Dominion to stop the work altogether. I don't, want to do so, and I don't intend to do so,_ but you must remember that in carrying out a work of this kind I must bo guided by what our experts, the engineers, tell me. I can't agree to accept the advice of the workers there.. You have given me your opinion that the work can be done more economically _in a certain way. but I must be guided by tlio opinions of others who know a great deal more about it tlian you can possibly know, lou ask to know what tlio position is now. I can't give you any undertaking that the work is to bo carried on at the same rate and in t.ho same way as in the past because it ,is absolutely necessary _ that there shall be general economy, ill the expenditure on publio works, until we know when the war is going to stop. I have only a certain amount of money at my disposal, and j have told the House that it will last at least until December, and possibly until March 31, 1917. I have had to stop some works. I have already stopped work on seven railway lines. I am not going to incur responsibilities and liabilities ahead of what I can see my way to defray. The question of what must bo gone on with at Otira tunnel must bo considered along with the question of what is to be doiie on all other works. But there never was any inten. tion of stopping work altogether." Points to be Considered. Mr. Fraser said'that it was now more than ever necessary that tho headings from both ends should bo driven in advance •of the other work. The tunnel had been driven a, considerable distance from Qtira and from Beale.v, and it was necessary that they should know as soon as possible whether the two drives would mket. {There were many reasons why the drives should bo pushed on to meet as soon as possible. The tunnel was all on the up-grade from Otira, and when the junction was made all ventilation and drainage problems would disappear. It would also be possible to dispose more easily of the spoil, and it would also be cheaper to land all the material for the tunnel more cheaply from the Be.v ley end. These were some of tho reasons why he thought of altering the method of going on with the work, and he would have to tako them into coin sideration. He could not admit the claim that tho work should be kept go, ing in the interests of 'the men. "1 would remind you,'' he said, "that tho Otira tunnel does not exist for the pur, pose of finding employment for the men. The men are there for -he purposo of building the Otira tunnel." Sir. Fraser said that he could not tell the deputation definitely how many men he would keep at Otira. The heading would bo carried on, but if he went on' with the heading and nothing else in the 'meantime, ho would have como to that decision only after having the matter thoroughly threshed out, and'after being convinced that this was the best, thing to do. He sincerely hoped that circumstances would not compel him to stop work altogether. It was only fair that some little notice should be given of bis intentions, for th 0 sake of the storekeepers and the men themselves, and as soon as he had looked into tho matter he would make an announcement.