THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17828, 8 July 1921, Page 6

THE OTIRA TUNNEL.

ELECTRIFICATION WORK. COMPLAINT OF DELAY. [BY TELEGRATH. —OWN CORRkSPONTDENT.] CHKISTCHURCH, Thursday. Dissatisfaction at the progress made with the electrification work in the Otira tunnel was expressed by Mr. K. i McAipine at a meeting of the Canterbury 1 Progress League. In regard to con- , struction work, Mr. McAipine said ! the contract from this end would be finished in another fortnight, and that from the other end in another month, but the electrification work, wh:ch should have been finished in December, was hardly commenced, part of the foundation work only having been done. The work 1 was as far ofi completion as it was the day the contract was signed. Mr. P. R. Climie said the coal strike in Britain had delayed the contractors, but Mr. McAipine replied that the contract was let last August, while the strike had commenced last March and was now over. The Minister had assured them there were certain penal clauses in the contract which would be enforced if necessary, but they had never seen the actual contract. When they had asked for copies they had been told copies could not be supplied, " owing to lack of typewriters," but that would be no cause now, in view of the amount of unemployment, j (Laughtier.) He thought, I)hey Should ; take steps to see the terms of the contract. The chairman, Mr. Henderson, pointed out that in view of the latest loan, there was a chance of the work being pushed cm.