OTIRA TUNNEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1919, Page 6

OTIRA TUNNEL.

| WORKERS' HIGH WAGES. ; Wellington, May 20. The Minister for Public Works has issued an official statement regarding his interview with the deputation from the Canterbury jukL West Coast Members of Parliament, in respeet to the Otira Tunnel. Replying to the argument that the pay should be increased to attract more men to the work, the Minister pointed out that the wage earned by the employees had greatly exceeded that paid to other workers ill the service of the Public Works Department.. In tlie Otira end of the tunnel tliev received 15s per day, including travelling time l's, and the tunnellers at the Bealey end, who worked on the co-operative system, earned 21a lfld per day, plus l's travelling time. After ditnussum, the Minister said he would submit the wage question to the Cabinet. It would take about 36 months under present conditions to [Complete the tunnel. If 200 men were ■obtained it should take over two years ■to complete, and the Minister undertook to get a report from a competent official on the condition of the cottages occupied by the men. Respecting the electrification question, ; a decision had' not yet been reached as to iwhich of Mr. Parry's four schemes should be adopted. In any ease, a stand-by steam plant would have to be established, and this would be ordered shortly,