SMOKING ON WHARVES

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 12

SMOKING ON WHARVES

A Dangerous Practice DISREGARD OF BY-LAW The dangers associated with smoking on the wharves are not realised by the many who are accustomed to stroll about the Wellington waterfront watching the ships at work. Most people show a complete disregard for the permanent notice-boards and for the warning boards specially placed near by ships working dangerous and easily inflammable goods; some resent being spoken to by Harbour Board officials about smoking on the wharves. The matter is referred to in his annual report to the Harbour Board by the general manager, Mr. A. G. Barnett, who says that, although there is a by-law prohibiting smoking or, wharves and in and around the sheds and cargo, smoking has increased in spite of warning notices and the vigilance of the board’s officers. Special instructions have been issued to the staff, printed notices have been displayed in prominent places around the wharves, and the shipping companies and Waterside Workers’ Union have been asked to co-operate with the board in preventing the abuse of the by-law. An officer of the board with fire brigade experience has been appointed to patrol the wharves in an endeavour to prevent smoking in hazardous places. Under the Waterside Workers’ Award smoking is not allowed in the vicinity of open hatchways or on the wharves in the vicinity of any cargo. Another factor that makes the prevention of smoking more difficult is the custom of allowing the wharves to be used by the general public as a thoroughfare and promenade. As a number of the board’s wharves are built of timber, and in view of the inflammable nature of much of the cargo that is handled over these wharves, an improvement can be obtained only with the active co-opera-tion of all concerned, and more drastic means will have to be adopted by the board if this assistance is not given.