THE OTIRA TUNNEL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17634, 26 May 1919, Page 5

THE OTIRA TUNNEL

NECESSITY FOR EXPEDITING COMPLETION. #

DEPUTATION TO' SIR WILLIAM ERASER. THE MINISTERIAL REPORT. (Fkom Oub Own Correspondent.) . WELLLNGTON, May 25. On Friday afternoon a deputation of Canterbury and West Coast members of Parliament waited on the Minister of Public Works (Sir William FraserJ wjtli regard to the Otira tenneL The, press wore not admitted to the interview, but it was arranged that the Minister should prepare a statement for publication. Following is the statement furnished by Sir William Fraser:—

Messrs Isitt, Colvin, Seddon, Anstey, Talbot, Holland, and M'Combs, M.P.'s, and the Hon. Mr Grimmond, M.L.C., waited on me as a deputation with regard to matters connected with the Otira tunnel. The following were the principal subjects discussed:—(l) The desire to see more men employed in order to hasten the completion of the work. (2) The term still required to complete the tunnel. (3) The condition of the cottages occupied by the men. (4) What decision has been come to with regard_ to the electrification of the tunnel? With regard to the first point it Was urged that the disagreeable conditions under which the work of widening and lining the tunnel had to be performed were such as to deter men from engaging on it, and that the only way to attract men was to increase the pay above that for ordinary labour. I pointed out that the wage earned by the employees was considerably in excess of that paid to any other workers in the service of the Public Works Department. The men working- in the tunnel at the Otira end were receiving 14s per day for working six hours, plus Is per day" for travelling to and from work, or 15s -per day in all At the Bealey end the tunnelers were working on the co-operative system, without limitation of hours, and were earning 20s lOd.per day, plus Is a day for travelling time, or 22s lOd per day in aIL It was urged by some members of the that the wage to be attractive should be 20s a day all roundj and that the co-operative or small contract system should be abolished. I at once saad that such a proposal could not be entertained. After some discussion I intimated my intention to submit the whole question as to increasing the present rate of wages on the tunnel to the decision of the Cabinet. This suggestion met with the approval of the deputation. As to the second point—the time it will still take to complete the tunnel with the present number of men—namely, from 135 to 140—1 pointed out that the distance still to be widened and lined is 90 "chains. The average rate of completion is about two and a-half chains per month, so that it will take about 36 months under present conditiona. If a total of about 200 men were obtainable it should take over two years to complete the undertaking. . As to the condition of the cottages, I undertook to have a report submitted to me by a competent official. At the same time I pointed out how difficult it was to keep these huts in prorier repair, owing to the indifference exhibited by some of the oocupants.-

With regard to the electrification question, I intimated that no decision had yet been arrived at as to which of Air Parry's four schemes _ should be adopted. This was a most difficult proposition, owing to the heavy rainfall there at certain seasons of the year, and the snow and frost during the winter months, all of which factors were likely to militate against the stability of any work _ for permanently harnessing the streams in that neighbourhood. On© foot was, however, beyond dispute, that a standby steam plant for generating electric power would have to be established whatever hydro-electric scheme was finally adapted. The whole of the steam Generating plant would be ordered shortly, so as to be ready to take the trains through the tunnel as soon as the tunnel was completed.

ALLEGED MINISTERIAL MISAPPREHENSION.

DIFFICULTIES OF CONSTRUCTION '

OVER-ESTIMATED.

COAL PRODUCING PROSPECTS.

(Pra Omitsd Pitbss Association.) WESTPORT, May 25 In reference to the statement by the Minister of Mines regarding .the difficulties of the construction of the Buller Gorge railway, members of the Wesfcport Railway League state that the Minister is evidently misinformed. The railway construction is completed over the most difficult portion and post of the remaining part of the route is along a natural ledge and over flat country, so that its construction would be by no means costly. Then in regard to testing the field, members ask what greater proof of the presence of coal in quantity is required than the solid coal measure in which mining has already been carried on at several places just off the roadside for coal for gold dredging and local use. There are also numerous other exposed faces on big seams on both sided ot the river, the route of the railway actually passing ovef a 12ft seam, which dl Ps back into the mountain. Members of the Railway League also wish to emphasise that .completion of construction on this can would enable largo fields of coal in the vicinity Rcefton, estimated at 50 miles by eight miles, to bo developed, as Westport is the natural outlet for this area. Several mines are already opened, but* their output is limited owing to the difficulty of getting the coal away. Coal could pour °L We^P° rt from this field immediately the railway was completed. Evidence regarding _ these coal measures and the fiicibtv with which they could be worked was given before the Industries Committee whoso report is awaited here with steat interest. 6