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Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1920, Page 2

On a previous occasion we have appre- ! ■dinted the promising work of the present Minister of Public Works. There is occasion to do so again, and to laud the Hon. J. O. Coates very sincerely for his personal efforts to forward the completion of the Otira tunnel works. Arising out of the settlement of the late strike at the Bealey end, (which matters heretofore had progressed more satisfactorily from a labor point of*view than at the other end). Mr Coates lias secured a resumption of work on conditions, which should ensure the more rapid and certain completion of the great work than has before appeared probable. In addition'to agreeing to a price for carrying on the work, Mr Coates has added to the pay schedule an attraction wago or bonus, to retain the men employed right through the job. One of the complaints hitherto has been that men have been going and coming and there was at times a difficulty in maintaining the effective strength of tjro shifts. By offering attractions to the men to remain on the job, a more experienced class of workmen will bo secured, and as the bonus I counts on the amount earned there will be the inducement for the workmen to stick close to their job, and by so doing, fneiliate its completion. It is a very fitting move for the Minister to take, and having taken it, the eounffry should be grateful to him for a stroke of policy which should have a marked effect on the ultimate date when the tunnel work will be finished and ready, for the last spike to be driven in securing the steel link Bast and West. There is a general concensus of opinion that tlie Otira funpel cannot 'be completed too soon now for the material advancement of the country. Hitherto a large amount of opposition to the work emanated frojn Auckland, and the opposition from that quarter carried considerable weight, and no doubt tended to retard progress. It is a sign of the times that that opposition in serious effect has broken down Wo find a north of Auckland Minister evincing more than a passing interest in the Otira tunnel works and in fact attacking them with a show of which indicates that completion of the work in his main offort and desire. The country will have occasion to remain grateful to Mr Coates for his policy Stroke.