WHAT IS A TUNNEL?

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14361, 6 February 1911, Page 2

WHAT IS A TUNNEL?

At its nest sitting in Dunedin the Arbitration Court.-will probably »e asked for a definition of a tunnel. The XKiint raised will be understood by Tiniaru people who have observed the progress of the underground drainage HorK. The parties who have agreed to elevate the Court to the position of lexicographers are the Dimedin Drainage Board and the local General Labourers' Union. The present award specifies Is 3d per hour as the minimum v/age for those employed in tunn|el work, which is a slightly higher rate than for ordinary trench work. It • may have been noticed that in sewer excavations hi good ground the practice is to leave "bars" of solid ground at frequent intervals. The usual tiling is 12 feet J of open trench and a "bar" of 7 feet i between it and the next 12 feet of I trench. The object of these "bars" is I to support the roadway, and' prevent [ the trench from caving in. The Labj ourers' Union contends that the piercing of an arched passage through these bars to connect the ends of open trench' a'i the proposed sewer level, constitutes tunnel work, and should command tunnel rates. The Board disputes tin's, and therefore an interpretation of the award on this point is to !>3 asked for. The principle involved is one that affects many employers other than the Drainage Board.