OTIRA TUNNEL WORKERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1919, Page 5

OTIRA TUNNEL WORKERS.

HIGH COST OP OUTFIT. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Greymouth, Last Night. Mr. Seddon visited Otira and conferred with the tunnel workers. He dealt with the much vexed question of wearing apparel. The workers' committee stated that a sou'-wester costs 4s 6d and lasts three months, an .oilskin coat £2 109 and lasts two months, a pair of boots £2 5s and last two months, while the repair of a pair of boots costs 12s 6d. A pair of legginga cost 14s and last two months. The cost is so dear and renewals so frequent that what appears at first sight to be high wages, on analysis is not so, as the price of wearing apparel is so high, and is likely to become higher. It was suegested that the Public Works Department should appears at first sight to be high wages, at a reasonable price. The question of wages, which had been variously stated, was given as follows: Face machinists (four) get 16s id per diem, shift bosses 17s 6d, machinists (ten) 16s Id, other workers in the tunnel 15s. The amounts include travelling time and war bonus. The men working outside get 13s. Taking the average worker's earnings, with deduction made for the cost of outfit, he gets not much over 12s. The committee at Otira are of opinion that, with three shifts and the men working the electrical scheme (which is part of the Otira Tunnel works), there would be found employment for 500 men. At Bealey, the contract system prevails.