OTIRA TUNNEL

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 207, 27 May 1919, Page 7

OTIRA TUNNEL

' 4 —— WAGES AND LIVING CONDITIONS STATEMENT BY MR. H. E. HOL,LAND, M.P. Mr. H. E. Holland, M.P., has handed tho following statement to the .Press in connection with tho delay in completing the Otira tunnel:— •''Sir William Frosery statement, mado public on, Monday .to the deputation which waited on him .on .'Friday, is very complete in so far as it covers his own reply to the representations made to him, but. it conveys to the/public no idea.or ~the loots placed before tho Minister by tho various speakers. "'My own statement set".. forth that while tho. wages of tho men working in the tunnel at the Otira end ranged irom lis., 6d. to lfe. Gd.' (apart from shift bosses), those working outside tho tunnel were receiving' as low as 135., including .bonus. I. pointed • out .that, according to the statement of the men's 4-xeoutivo, if the workers provido themselves with -adequate oilskin clothing tho extra cost to thorn, for these items alono would run to .il 3s. Gd. per week; hence, if it is admitted that the wages at tho' Otira end: average 15s. a day '(.£llos. per week), ; os' the Minister declares, this amount is re-, duced to less than' 10s. by reason'ofthis' cost. Generally speaking tho cost of living has rison qilito 100 per 'cent, at Otira since tho'outbreak of war, so that the 15s, which the tunnel worker is si)id' to average lias a purchasing i>owor of iHit more than 7s. 6d. as compared "-with prewar wages.

. "I stated to tho Minister'what is a: fact " beyond tho possibility of contradiction, viz.,' that,' apart from tho hotels and the residences of several officials, there is nota single structure at Otira fit for -a. woman to'rear children in. In 0110 Shack a family consisting of father, mother, and six children 'axe living in threo rooms, lioue of which exceeds 12 by 10 feet. In another of -two rooms with a leun-tp added a family of father, inotlver, and four children exist: One room'fierves for living and dining-room; in the other room the ' whole family of six'sleep, and the lean-to is utilised its a kitch6n.' Those aro merely cases in point. The huts for single ' nicn are'sligntly better than the plaeia provided for the married, but they art ■ bad enough also. At Arthur's Pass tho huts for singto men are indescribable. "There is no doctor at either Otira or Arthur's 'Pass.' At Otira thero is a hospital which-is'in chargo of a capable nurse, but alt serious cases must be taken to' either Hokitika or Greymouth for {'treatment. In maternity cases the womon • are compelled to go awrty, and this involves' a heavy expenditure, which rcduces wages in ,proportion. "The men engaged on tho work say ' that it will take at least five years to complete the tunnel with the number ot men at" present employed, but that it could be completed in a little over a'yoar if the necessary additions to : tho eta ft were made. They further say that it is quite possible to enormously increase the number employed;'but that this caii only ' be done if wages are increased and living conditions improved. Mr. ll'Combs showed that if the nunibor of workers wcro increased and the: wages lifted tho f sum total 'of wages l could be saved in interest ' charges. ' '-!

"The deputation urged that tho wages should-be increased to J2l a day to enable tho tunnel workers', to- livo up .to'tho standard of workers elsewhere whose wages in their money expression may appear- to be less; further, that tho number of men should be considerably increased, the.Housing.conditions materially. improved, and medical 6ervico provided: They pointed out that men employed at the .tunnel prior to going to the war refused to accept workthero on their return, and that other men aro constantly leaving to accept .work at tho sawmills and in, other callings where tho conditions are more favourable and the wages better.

.'/li'inally, ■ Sir William .Eraser is. In error when, ho says the . deputation urged •the abolition of the small contract system. L don't think any member, of ,tba deputation .made that suggestion." In reply to Sir William's statement that the men at Arthur's Pass were making. 22j. lOd. • per day, I .personally drow attention to tho fact that these men' were working ,on -i'o.ntraqt, and tlijt' tlift contract system was of neressity a speeding-up system. I further pointed, out' that men's lives wero shortened, by -speedirig-up undor such conditions. 1 Beyond that.l don't: think any demand- was made for the abolition of the contract system at Arthur's Pasa. But I am certain that, in .tho interests of both tho 'men and the cpuntry, , a system, of adequate wages on aday laboui brisis'and devoid of speeding up is to bo preferred."