UNNECESSARY DELAY

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 136, 12 June 1933, Page 6

UNNECESSARY DELAY

As a big construction job the erection of the Dominion Museum and Art Gallery will absorb much labour. Wellington as a whole will benefit by facilitating the work. This is so apparent that it is regrettable and scarcely to be understood lhat the contractors, through no fault of their own, are confronted with obstacles which have compelled them to reduce the labour on the job. Some sixty men are out of work for 'six weeks, and the time when the contract will be in full'swing is also put back. The difficulty is in providing access! The only available road has been blocked, by necessary excavation. There is another route on the east of the site which could be used if it were widened, but widening is held up by a bank on the west of the road, and a house on the east. The Trustees, we understand, do not wish the bank cut as it now conforms to the final layout plan. Ifj cut it will have to be built up again-and reinforced. The ho.use'on the other side is vacant, and is to be moved, but the removal waits till the Trustees and the Government Departments concerned can agree on the terms of exchange of land. There' is nothing here which can excuse long delay. The house could be removed at once, or partly removed, if the terms ,of exchange were fixed. Reasonable men should have little difficulty in fixing the terms or at • least in agreeing to accept arbitration after the work is done. But either this or the' alternative solution is preferable to delay. The contractors have shown a public spirit in deciding to employ manpower in place of machine-power on the excavation job (at greater cost to themselves) and public men should second this attempt to relieve unemployment.