OTIRA TUNNEL

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1919, Page 2

OTIRA TUNNEL

MINISTER’S REPLY TO MEMBERS. [PEH PEESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT.j

WELLINGTON, May 25. The Minister of Public Works has issued the promised official statement regarding the interview which the deputation of Canterbury and West Coast members of Parliament had with him, in respect to the Otira Tunnel. ! Replying to the argument that the pay of the men should be increased, in order to attract more men to the work, the Minister pointed out that tlie wages earned by tlie employees greatly exceeded that paid to other workers now in tlie service of the Public Works Department. The men at the Otira end of the tunnel, he says, rcr r "‘'-od 15/. per day, this including travelling time of 1/-. Tlie tunnellers at the Bealey end, who are working on the co-operative system, have earned 21/10 a. day, plus 1/- travelling time. After the discussion, the Minister said lie would submit the wages question ta Cabinet. Tho Minister said that it would take about 36 months, under the present conditions, to complete the tunnel. If 200 men were obtainable, it should take two years to complete the work, j The Minister undertook to get a report from a competent official on the condition of cottages occupied by the men.

! Respecting tlie tunnel electrification question, he said, a decision had not yet been reached as to which of Air Parry’s four schemes would be adopted. In any case, a stand-by steam plant would have to be established and this

would bo ordered shortly,