MINERS FOR THE FRONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16026, 18 September 1915, Page 6

MINERS FOR THE FRONT.

The announcement that, at the request of the British Government New Zealand and Australia are raising special corps for tunnelling work emphasises the important place taken by the engineer in the present war. The majority of our men on Gallipoli Peninsula have no doubt become familiar with trench work. On emergency every map is a sapper, but for sustained tunnelling there can be no question that, in war as in industry, the advantages of economy and efficiency lie with experienced men working under skilled direction. New Zealand is asked to send a company of from 300 to 400 engineers and tunnellersThe company will be recruited from the ranks of miners and public works employees. The Dominion can spare this contingent of sappers without difficulty and without endangering the coal output if care is taken in the selection of the menAs we have reinforced our fighting units, we may in future have to strengthen our engineering company Provision can be made for this by organisation in the Public Works Department ; indeed, while, tunnellers are in demand and war economies are being practised the National Government should bo called upon to consider seriously whether the continuance of th--? Otira Tunnel >s in the public interest. Meantime, there is every reason to believo that tunnelling recruits will be rapidly found in Auckland and elsewhere, and that the company will be filled to the maximum strength required.