OTIRA TUNNEL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10279, 14 May 1919, Page 5

OTIRA TUNNEL

MORE MEN" WANTED ON THIS WORK. Proas Association. WItEYMOUTH, May 13. Messrs J. McCombs and H. Holland, M.l'.'s, have received a request from the Otira Tunnel Workers' Union executive, unanimously supported by the men, that in order to complete the tunnel, at the earliest moment it was advisable that at least 500 men should be employed. The men claim that such a number could complete the work in little over a year. Only 100 men are now employed, and'they would take five years to complete the work. To secure the extra men needed all that will be necessary is to increase the wages of the, mon inside the tunnel on account of the extraordinary cost ot oilskin clothing 'iTioispensable for such work, which cost is borne by the tien* and amounts to £1 2s 6d weekly. It is impossible to get married men to work there till proper residences are jrovlded. Families .of. six ,and eight are at present living in three rooms. A medical man is also needed on the work.

MessM McCombs and Holland say, in statements to the Press, that if ; .iie work at the tunnel is extended by increasing the number of the men to five hundred, the management and' overhead charges would not increase improportionately, and the saving thus effected pins four years' .interest on the money already sunk would probably meet the increased wage cost, five or even ten times over, and would therefore be the cheapest proposition in tho end.