THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1919, Page 6

THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

MORE VIGOROUS PRUUHIiSS WAM'iiJj.

By Telegraph.—Press Association. llokitika, June o.

The Westland Chamuur 01 (Joimrteree discussed matters leiaiing to the prosecution of the Otira Tunnel worki more rapidly last night, The Mons. J. Griiumond and H. L. Michel and .Mr. 'J'. K Seddon, M.P., were among tlio.-c present and taking au active p.ux in jjhe discussion.

Several resolutions were carried, including the following: Bringing under the notice of the Minister of Puolic Works an improvement in the conditions oi pay and housing at the works to attract additional suitable imbnr to expedite the completion; that the Minister he asked to publish forthwith what electrical scheme has bsen decided upon, and that the installation of necessary electrical works be commenced forthwith; thai the Minister be asked to publish monthly the number of men employed on the works, and the average wages earned and the progress made with the undertaking.

Jn the course of his remarks, the Hon H. L. Michel stated that he had reliable authority for statin'.' that no man at the Arthur's Pass end, working on a co-operative contract, had earned less than £32 for the month of May. The opinion was expressed that eiforts dionld be made to attract discharged members of the Tunnelling Corps to take i, H contracts at remunerative rates, so as to assist in pushing on the work to completition. Tie stated that not. li>« than £IOOO per week was the liability for interest on the cost of the work at present lying unproductive owing to the non-completion of the line.

The Government was uvj-ed. in Accordance with the report of the delegates who recently visited, (ho works, f n employ fully an additional hundred mi-n to complete the work with'n 'ivn ye""-\ which was half the estimate of the time required to complete it at the present rate of progress with the nwi available.

The chamber al"o considered (he harmful effect on W"st.'a"d of (lie timber regulations and the li"kincr up of hum 00,000 acres of timber \"v,h as provisional State forest!:. The Hrmf:d effect on the distr'-t of the locking up of land 1)t the reservation was recalled as an cvpinle of the injury that could be don" to a district. A subcommittee was set on <o <jn into tne matter and report to a subsequent meeting.