179. If any such railway company, whose contractors or sub-contractors are in arrears with their laborers or workmen, do or shall, after notice thereof, by letter addressed to the secretary or president, at the principal office of the company, pay over moneys then due or payable to their contractors without providing for the payment of the arrears, the railway company shall thereupon become and be liable to pay the same as a debt due from the company to the said laborers and workmen.
R. S. 1964, c. 290, s. 196.