Farm children ‘vulnerable’

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33493, 26 March 1974, Page 2

Farm children ‘vulnerable’

(Neu? Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 25. The 66 2-3 per cent rise in farm I fatalities in 1973 was due to an increase in accidents to children.

Mr H. M. Mansell, an agri- | cultural safety officer in Hamilton, made this comment (today, addipg that the ages I at which they died threw I suspicion on the effectiveness I of-their supervision. He said that five children iwere killed in tractor -mishaps. Three were riding on some part of the tractor. “This surely emphasises .that tractors are built to 'carry only one person—thej i driver.” Drowning claimed the lives; (of eight children and seven, of. these were under five! -years of age. In two instan-

ces the gate from house tb paddock was open and in only one was the child any distance from adults. Two were drowned ■in troughs and another in a sheep dip. Mr Mansell said it was possible to cover sheep dips and troughs easily and; with little expense. Four children died from the - misuse of . firearms. “As usual,” said Mr Mansell, i“some were killed in the home because firearms had j not beert put away where i children could not reach; (them. Also, as usual, not all ! were put away unloaded.” One child died because it i drank an agricultural chemical used by many home gardeners as well as farmers, j “These are poisons and ; should be treated as such and 'kept under lock and key,” he said. i Two were killed by aniimals.'with horses out of control in both cases. Two facts I stood out very clearly, said iMr Mansell. The under-five ! children were very vulnerable land a good fence around the i house with a child-proof gate I was a good investment.

Hotel change.—Mr and Mrs W. T. Frost will relinquish the licence of the Commercial Hotel, Nelson Creek, this week to live in Christchurch. The new licensees will be Mr and Mrs B. Thin, of Christchurch. — (F.0.0.R. Greymouth).