ACCIDENTS ON PUBLIC WORKS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 32, 1 November 1929, Page 15

ACCIDENTS ON PUBLIC WORKS

CHALLENGE TO MINISTER CHARGE BY UNION Grave concern at the number of accidents occurring on public works was expressed by the general secretary of the New Zealand Workers’ Union (.Mr. A. Cook I in a statement he ’ made to a "Dominion’’ representative yesterday afternoon. In Dunedin, some few weeks back. Dlr. Cook charged the Public Works Department with laxity regarding the use of explosives, and his criticism brought forth a reply from the Dlinister of Public Works (Hon. E. A. Ransom), in which the Dlinister stated that all possible precautions were taken by officers of the Department, and that there was no foundation in fact for the allegations made about the handling of explosives. "In this respect.” said Dlr. Cook, “I wish to give the Minister’s statement tnr emphatic denial, and can furnish proof to back up any statements I may make. After the Minister’s statement that all precautions were taken. I refrained from commenting until I had sent an officer of the union to Waikaremoana to investigate fully the actual position on those works where the latest disastrous accident had occurred. I now have the report before me. Waikaremoana Fatality. “On the Waikaremoana road works, George White was killed on August 9, 1929. He was tamping a hole with frozen gelignite when it exploded, and he was blown over a cliff and killed. There were no warming pans on the job for thawing out fracture. No notices were posted regarding the careful handling of explosives on the job. No magazine was erected on the job; there were no pliers to clinch detonators to fuses, the men being compelled to do this Nvith their teeth. “After the recent explosion at Wqikaremoann in which five men were injured, a magazine was erected. Before this accident cases of explosives were left out in the frost, and were frozen white when issued to the men, in spite of the fact that a few weeks before the latest accident a man had been killed through charging a hole with frozen fracture. No warming pans were issued —and not until after the recent accident were they issued.” _ The Dlinister, in refuting his (Mr. Cook’s) previous statement, said when commenting on the latest accident at ■Waikaremoana that the Department had received a report from a Departmental otiicea.in the following terms: “A workman Was examining gelignite in a tent and dropped a plug on the hot iron hearth. The gelignite was not frozen, but in any ease a warm pan and hot water, witlra special man detailed to give the gelignite attention, was in camp.” Statement Challenged. “I challenge the correctness of this statement,” said Mr. Cook. “In the first place the gelignite was frozen. In the second place there was no warming pan; in the third place there was no man looking after explosives. “Here are three statements made by ■ injured workmen dealing with recent accidents. The first statement is, made by R. Dalhousie, and witnessed by Dlr. V. E. Winter J.P. Dalhousie had his arm amputated, and is terribly burned and not expected to live. His statement reads :— On September 28 I was at Mokau, M aikaremoana; James O’Grady and myself were going out to work on the water drive. At about 8.30 o’clock I went into George Leckie’s hut to thaw the gelignite, as it was frozen. AD e had two packets. I laid it out in front of the fire I thawed the lot out and picked up the last five plugs and put them in the box with the others, and they went off. That is all I can remember. I was sure I was Quite careful over it. “Another statement made by an injured workman, George Leckie, which statement was also witnessed by Mr. Winter J.P.. confirmed the statement made by Dalhousie. Yet another injured workman states: ‘The’ gelignite was issued to us a week or hiore before the accident in a case lot. Ihe fracture was frozen hard, and in my opinion it was essential that it should be thawed, out. Our party was never issued with a pan to thaw out frozen fracture, but have since the accident been issued one. There was lio magazine to keep explosives in except the tool shed. We had no place to keep issued explosives other than in our tents. Since my return from the hospital"l was asked to attend the local office to read a statement that was to be sent to the Public Works head office. This statement was headed: “Seen by eye-witness.” The official explained that the statement was prepared by the works engineer. The statement was completely false. I was requested to sign it, which I refused to do. The statements regarding this accident which have appeared in the Press are entirely contrary to Inquiry Wanted.

“After reading the foregoing,” continued Dlr. Cook, "it will be interesting to learn if Dlr. Ransom will still contend that all precautions were taken. Ten days ago an official of the union visited a Dlaori Public Works camp near Ruatahiiua and dikiovered m practically every tent explosives under the beds. In this camp there are a number ot little children. Just imagine the danger they are subjected to. At a relief camp six miles from Ohura an official of the New Zealand Workers’ Union found explosives kept in the tents where the men were cooking and sleeping. There was no other place to keep them. “The question is: ‘Will Mr. Ransom now do something to stop wh.qt can only be termed as criminal neglect?’ I don t for a moment blame the officials of the Department who are in charge of the works. The safety appliances are not provided, and for this the Public M orks head must accept the blame. Will the Minister appoint inspectors ta enforce safety appliances on every job.' 1 Is it known to the public generally that during the past eight, months six men have lost their lives and over .20 been injured on account of explosives in the North Island alone? In conclusion I contend the onus is now on the Dlinister to disprove my statements. IV ill the Dlinister agree to the fullest investigations being made, and allow the union to be represented on a tribunal which should be set up to make the fullest investigations in order that the killing and crippling of men may be stopped?”