WHARF WORKERS, SCHEME.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 227, 18 June 1908, Page 4

WHARF WORKERS, SCHEME.

o At a meeting of wharf workers held at noon yesterday, in conncction with tho proposed accident hind, a worker who fell down the hold of a steamer some months ago, receiving very serious injuries, seconded the appeal of Mr. G. G. Farland in favour of the scheme. When ho fell down the hold another man who fell down with him met his death. Tho speaker wastakon to tho hospital, and was -still going thoro .-jr>r treatment. Ho referred to tho difficulty ,of ' establishing in Court the ownership of, vessels on which accidents occurred, and urged that a, copy of each ship's register should be kept oil shore, where an authorised. officer of tho union might examine it. •To establish ownership froth the register, when . al case.-was I .brought to .Court, under the present system, might entail six months' delay, supposing that the vessel-had left New Zealand waters. He described, tho ease of another man, now on crutches, who hal ri*covofed £219 from a shipping company, as tho result of an accident. Aftor paying hospital and ambulance expenses, _ lawyors, and £51 to the chemist for medicine alono," he'would not have much-left out of that. Mr.,' Farland announce;! that the Chase Family Entertainers and Arch's Biolograph Company had arranged to givo a special benefit for four or fivo injured wharf workors, who were at present destitute. Referring to his accident insurance scheme, he said that it. was hoped, after providing for a sinking fund, to bo ablo to pay out from the fund four or fivo months after it was started.