THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 November 1920, Page 5

THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

DELAYED BY CEMENT SHORTAGE. IMPORTS ADVOCATED. By Telegraph.—Presi Association. Christchuroli, Last Night. Mr. Climie, organiser for the Canterbury Progress League returned to-night from a visit to the Otira tunnel works. He found .that the failure to keep up normal supplies of cement was retarding the progress of the work of lining the tunnel to a very marked and seri- ! ous extent. It was estimated that approximately 50 tons of cement were required each week to keep the three shifts at each end of the tunnel fully employed on the work which is normally followed closely behind the top headings, and which could not be delayed owing to a danger of the roof and walls falling in. During the last seven months, however, cement supplies had only averaged 20 tons a week, or CO per cent, below requirements. This had resulted in the men. at times having to be put on other work, which ordinarily would have been left" till the completion of the lining, when it would have leen done much more expeditiously, ajid at considerably less cost to the department. There is another thirty-three chains of lining to be done in order to complete the tunnel, which under normal conditions would take eight months. If the'shortage continues on the Basis of the last seven months it is calculated it will require fully twenty months in order to do this eight months' work. In view of this serious financial loss to the country and the retardation of the completion of the tunnel, Mr. Climie suggests that the question of importing cement from Australia should he Seriously considered by the (Government.