PREFERENCE TO WORKERS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 223, 13 June 1908, Page 9

PREFERENCE TO WORKERS.

Sir, —111 these days, of prefercuce to unionists it midlife be well to consider a feature of preference, which, so far as the writer is aware, has not yet been brought before tho public. At the inquiry held before Dr. M'Arthur and his colleagues, the sccond mate of tho lonio made tho statement that the men wero ordered to give up their matches on going down into tho hold, and that there was a penalty (I understand a sovero ono) imposed for refusal. Mr. Foster" wished to know if that could be enforced. Tho reply was "Yes." Subsequently tho same officer submitted that ho had nover known anyoiio to give up matches, and this brings us to tho chief point I desiro to illustrate. Why not give preference to non-smokers? In tho interests of tho shippers, the shipping companies, tho (ravelling public, tho oflifcers, and crew, this, I submit, should bo rightly insisted upon. It- needs no argument to prove, that thoso interests combined are infinitely greater than the mcro selfish gratification of a body of inveterate .smokers, who, too frequently carry matches lonsc in their pockets, or use only paper boxes containing the dangerous was vestas .so much in use. Legislation would be.needed' ioMjbtaia this, reform, m -.present legis-.

lat-idn giving preference to unionists has to'; ho submitted to even if-the result should bo to burn any or all vessels that visit the port. 1 admit that it has not been proved that tno fire was caused by matches, nor has tho I)laliio been placed on any other causo to their, exoneration, but I do know of instances by which fires have been, causcd through loose matches. If a shipping company were, as a matter of justice and self-defence, and m the public interest, allowed to make a prolouged trial of this idea, especially "whore inflammable goods have to bo handled and stowed, and no fires occurred except such might bo traceable to other causes, then tho innovation would be justified, and tho risk so far minimised. Just imagine what the fato ot tho lonic might have been if- the fire had 1 not been discovered till tho ship was:in- mid-ocean.- What, also, the fato. of the passengers, officers, and.,crew?Every means'that human ingenuity can devise should bo tried to prevent such disasters as aro now only too common.—l am» eto ,-' n AGRICOLA. June, 9. • , •