OTIRA TUNNEL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 206, 26 May 1919, Page 6

OTIRA TUNNEL

MINISTER PRESSED TO SPEED-UP

A DEPUTATION FROM CANTERBURY

On Friday afternoon a deputation of Canterbury and West Const members, of Parliament waited on the Minister of Public Works (Sir 'William Fraser) in regard to the Otira Tunr,pl. The Press wero not admitted to tlw interview, but it was arranged that tho Minister 6hould prepare a statement for publication. Following is the statement furnished by Sir William Fraser:—

Messrs. Isitt, Colvin, ?,?ddon, Anstey, Talbot, Holland, and if' Combs, M.P.'s, and the Hon. Mr. Grimrnond, M.L.C., waited on me as n deputation in regard to matters connected with tho Otira Tunnel.

The following were tho principal subjects discussed;—

(1) Tho desire to see more iven employed in order to hasten the- completion of tho work.

(2) Tho term still required to complete the tunnel.

(3) The condition of the ccttsges jecupied by the men.

(•1) What decision has been come to in restnrd to tho electrification of tho tunnel?

AYith regard to the first point it was urged that the disagreeable conditions under which the work of widening and lining the tunnel had to be performed were such as to deter men from engaging on it, and that the only way to attract men was to increase the pay above that for ordinary labour. I pointed out that the wage earned by the employees was considerably, in excess of that paid to any other workers in the service "of tho Public Works Department. T.he men working in the tunnel at the Otira snd were receiving Us. per day for working \six hours; plus Is. per day fur travelling to and from work, or 15s. por day in all. At the Bealey end the tunnellers were working on the co-operativo system, without limitation of hours, and were earning 21s. lfld. pe.v day. plus Is. a day for travelling time, or 225. 10d. per day in all. It was urged by somo members of the deputation that the wage, to. be attractive, should be 20s. a day all round, and that the co-operative or small contract syetem should bo abolished. T nt onco said that such a proposal could not lie entertained. After some discussion I intimated my intention to submit the whole- question as to increasing tho preeont rate of wages on the tunnel to the decision of Cabinet. This suggestion met with t!\" approval of the deputation. As to the second point—the time it will still take to complete the tunnel with the present number of: me.n, viz., from 135 to pointed out that the distance still to be widened and lined is 90 chains. The average rate of 'completion about 21 chains,per month, eo that it will take about 36 months under -present conditions. If a total of about 200 men were oMainahle it should take over two yoar3 to complete the undertaking. As. to the condition of the. cottns!es,.l undertook to have a report submitted to mo by a competent official. At the same time I pointed out how difficult it was to keep these huts in proper wpair, owing to the indifference exhibited by some of tho occupants.

In regard to the electrification question, I intimated that no decision had jet been arrived at, as to wb'ch of Mr. Parry's four schemes should be adopted. This was a most difficult proposition owing to tho heavy rainfall there at certain seasons of'<tho year, and the snow and frost during the winter months, all of which factors were likely to militate against the etability of any work for permanently harnessing - ilio stream? In that One fact was, however, beyond, dispute—that a standby sfp.im plnnt for <renerathi? olectric power would have to bo established, whatever hvdro-electric scheme was finally adopted. The whole of the steam generating nlaiit would be ordered siiortlv, so as 'to be. ready to'take the trains through the tunnel as soon as the tunnel was completed.