THE OTIRA TUNNEL CONTRACT

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15138, 31 October 1912, Page 6

THE OTIRA TUNNEL CONTRACT

The West Coast of the South Island I has an evil reputation for railway [contractors. It has proved the grave .of many bright hopes, and enterprises. The latest victims of, this fata Morgana are the! contractors for the Otira Tunnel. Messrs. McLean Bros.' have been compelled to petition Parliament to be released from , th :ir contract. They have already lost heavily and now find! themselves unable to continue the work. The Committee to whom the House referred their petition has recommended that it be granted and from, the tone of the discussion which took. place in Parliament on Tuesday it appears probable that this course will be adopted. Though as a general rule it may be contrary to sound policy to relieve contractors for public works of "their legal liabilities there - are special and ex-

;ce|itiohal circumstances ■ ' in" the' present case which plead strongly for favourable consideration; The whole master is now in : the : hands •of the Government, and the responsibility for wha* ivev is done rests.with the Cabinet; Ministers can be trusted to act wiA fairness and justice to the < contractors, while a'i the same /time.. doing their duty; : to the public. Apart from the personal -aspect of the case they have to decide what is a question 'of far greater importance, namely .whether, the prosecution of the-..'sorfc'. should be continued, without .interruption. Opinions on • this point are divided, and in-view of rnoitT urgent works that- are' being delayed ■" for financial and 'other. reasons this '\ is a question -; which ought not to be* ■; settled without serious reflection.- ....