MR. PAYNE'S ALLEGATIONS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3140, 19 July 1917, Page 6

MR. PAYNE'S ALLEGATIONS

FACTS STATED.

A statement was made by tho Prime Minister yesterday, replying to Mr. Payne's question of a tew days ago regarding the work of the stokers at Wellington gasworks.

Mr. Massey said: A careful investigation and inquiry has been made by a responsible departmental officer, who reports that on the whole the conditions under which the stokers and retort hands have to work ,are as good as at other gasworks in the Dominion. Manual labour is assisted very largely by mechanical appliances, and the actual working hours are short. Hot and cold baths anil separate lockers for food and clothing are provided for the workers, and the wage per man, inclusive of holiday pay, averages about £i per week. The retort system in use at the Wellington gasworks is, I am informed, a German patent, but a very large portion of the structure was made in and supplied from Great Britain. The German retorts were obtained before the war because of their superiority to others, not because of their cheapness,' the cost being nearly three times that of those made in Britain. Much of the ironwork in the elevators, conveyers, and contingent machinery can and has been duplicated in New Zealand. In addition to Scottish retorts now waiting to be put in, the company has placed an order with a firm in Invercargill, which has recently commenced the manufacture of such material. It would not be necessary, even if it were possible, for workers to go into the healed furnaces to remedy defects, and in any case these men do not perforin repair work, which is done by tho engineering staff or bricklayers. I am informed that on rare occasions when tho coke conveyer has broken down (on two occasions during the last six months) the coke has been dropped upon the floor of the retort-house, where water was played upon it in order to cool it. The men'usually walk .over this to close the door, but this is not necessary if they would take tho trouble to rake it clear.

THE COAL QUESTION. With regard to the difficulties that have been encountered in connection with the discharge of coul for the use of the Wellington Gas Company's works at Jliraniar, the cargoes of both iho Juttuwa and the Kurow, both of vhicli were coal-laden for the company, have been discharged in town. No coal has been discharged at the Jliramar Wharf since the retort hands ceased work at Miramar. MAKING COAL BORN LONGlift. S'aveo renders coal slow burning, without impairing its heating and cooking finalities. Mix with water and sprinkle coal in scuttle. Every Gliornlful then burns fifty pev cent, longer. Sixpence .it leading stores, • including Bennett's, TJ.T.C Wairamna Farmer'. George Winder, Dnthie's, Wardell's, Stewart Hardware, Campbell's (three shops). Mid Cooper TT.ivdwni'c. lVonev back if not satisfied. Saven Proprietary, Box 391), Wellington.—Advt.