LEAD POISONING.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 251, 22 October 1924, Page 8

LEAD POISONING.

DEPUTATION OF PAINTERS. PROMISE BY MINISTER. .. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Accompanied by Messrs. W. A. Veitch and P. Fraser, M.P.'s, a deputation from the Painters' Federation and the AVellington TraSes and Labour Council waited upon the Minister of Labour last night with reference to the proposed legislation with regard to the prevention of lead poisoning. Mr. F. Cornwall (secretary) acted as spokesman, and those als"o present were Messrs. W. JO'Brien (president of the PaintersFederation), W. Cooper, F. Goodwin (Painters' Federation Executive), and W. Bromley (secretary of the Trades and Labour Council). The Minister stated that he did not think legislation was necessary, as tlie Department could deal with tlie matter by way of regulation. They had abundance of evidence, reports from Geneva, and all that it was possible to get hold of. The matter was in the hands of a House Committee at the present time. He would get on with the regulations as soon as the session was over, and let both them and the employers have an opportunity of seeing the regulations before they were gazetted. Mr. Cornwall pointed out that under the Workers Compensation Act men could not get compensation for lead poisoning unless a claim was made within twelve months of the disease showing itself. In two recent Auckland cases in which men had. died their relatives could not pet compensation on that account, but their employers, through insurance companies, had given compassionate allowances up to £200 to their widows. Mr. Veitch submitted that the Labour Department should make a thorough , investigation of the whole question of occupational diseases. The Minister said the Department was doing that now. Mr. Veitch added that there should fee special legislation to take these ea.*cs from under the Workers Compensation for Accidents Act. They should be dealt with under a special Act giving compensation for occupational diseases. The Minister, in conclusion, said that at the risk of being told that it was a case of King Charles' head, he must say that in his opinion the only way to meet cases of this kind was a contributory pensions scheme. That would cover the whole groninrl.