OTIRA TUNNEL.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16208, 10 May 1918, Page 8

OTIRA TUNNEL.

4 THE MINISTER'S VISIT. The Hon. Sir W. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, arrived in Christchurch last night from the Otira, accompanied by Mr G. Witty, M.P. Seen by a "Press" representative, Sir William eaid that he had had a good meeting with the men, and they had laid the whole of their side of the question, regarding the troubles which led up to the recent strike, before j.irn. Sir William stated that he could not say mrsrc than this at present, but he would make aa announcement, in the near future. Asked if the work on the tunnel wen 1.1 be accelerated, the Minister eai.l he did not see how this could be done. There were now a smaller number or j men on the job than before the strike, j there did not seem much chance of acceleration. "However,"' he said, I "the work will jro on. On the day I | went up, shots tired at the Otira end I of the "tunnel were distinctly heard at the Bealcv end, which shows that there , is not much further to go. As a matter of fact, the distance between the headings is only 11} chains." Sir William Fraser went Xorth last night. He will visit South Canterbury early next week.