PARLIAMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 June 1925, Page 3

PARLIAMENT

DANGERS TO SHUNTERS.

(Special to “Star-”)

WELLINGTON, June 29.

The attention of the Minister of Railways was drawn by Sir J, Luke and Mr Holland, in the House tonight, to the number of recent fatal accidents to shunters in the Railway Service. Both Members asked that an inquiry be instituted into the whole working conditions of shunters, and that the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants snould be represented at the inquiry. Mr Holland gave notice of his intention to ask the Minister whether he is aware of the congested nature of many of the sheds, tneir bad lighting conditions, the excessively long hours worked, often involving risk to the worker's, and the harassing methods adopted by superior officers, etc. He asked whether the matters mentioned and also. other relevant questions would be included in the order of reference of inquiry. A general discussion took place oh the subject later, in the course of which a number of Members urged that the Department should institute an open inquiry into the cause of accidents.

Replying to the debate, the Minister of’tßailways (Ml- Coates) stated that a Departmental inquiry had been ordered about a fortnight ago. He was de--1 ermine,d as far as possible to give tile best conditions to inell lit the service. Shunting was recognised as a dangerous occupation, and every man ought to be given experience in it. There had been more accidents than usual, and special reports had been asked for. In addition, a committee of experts had been set up to inquire into nil matters affecting shunters. In laying out the yards, the safety factor was taken into consideration, and in new yards the most modern points would be put im A' hian had been brought in to advise as to the lay-out of railway lines. This year about £lO,OOO was to be spent on lighting yards (Hid station premises. . It was hoped to make all the yards up to date, but he Was afraid\that there would be accidents always. The Government was alive to the position, which was not satisfactory at present. They knew he did not want to have men going about for twelve hours without meals, and he would stop that sort of thing, if the complaints were brought to his notice.

WIRELESS ON SHIPS. Disappointment and dissatisfaction with the recently publised regulations governing the carrying of wireless on small ships was oppressed to-night by Mr Fraser. “I regret deeply,” said he, “to state that the obvious intention of the Hotlse in regard to the regulations has not been carried out. The regulations might be in advance of anything in operation in any other part of the world, but they did not express the desire of the House, as laid down 'last session.” He contended that every vessel no matter how many passengers or seamen, they carried, should be provided with modern wireless apparatus, so that those on board might have a sporting chance when they were facing death out in a storm. The Minister of Marine (Mr Anderson) said that Mr Fraser’s condemnation was not justified. He was informed by Departmental experts that the, regulations were the most advanced in the world. They represented a tremendous advance. Prior to the, framing of the regulations, 150 passengers had to be carried before wireless apparatus must be carried; now if there were only 25 souls on board, a ship must be equipped. The number of 25- was selected because a ship of such size would be capable of developing the necessary amount of power for wireless purposes. A vessel must have sufficient power Tor transmitting purposes. Furthermore, an operator must be carried. It was impracticable to carry a wireless operator performing no other work on every small ship. It would not be a commercial proposition. It had been suggested that all vessels irrespective of the number of people aboard should be equipped. He, took that to refer to launches, but ordinary vessels of that type did not carry the necessary power. The Deartment had endeavoured to bring down regulations which were as practicable as possible in the present state of wireless development, and had had the very best expert advice. “I have no doubt,” he continued, “that in time practical means will be found for putting wireless on the very smallest vessels, but at present we have not got to thpt.” At a later stage, the Minister said that harbour vessels would be just as liable to carry wireless, if they came within the scope oF the regulations, as other ships.

MISCELLANEOUS. An amendment of the minors’ phthisis legislation is desired -this session by Mr Rhodes (Thames), in the direction of esttiling the widow or a miner to a pension, irrespective 'of the cause of death indicated in the medical certificates. - _ . In notifying the Department of his intention to ask a question upon the subject, Mr Rhodes stated in the House to-night that in certain cases where miners had taken their own lives, the Coroner had found that the cause of death was other than that provided in the Act. Inquiry is being made by Air Glenn as to whether the attention of the Minister of Agriculture has been drawn to the circumstances surround; ing a death in England, supposed to have been caused by a victim eating diseased frozen mutton. He suggests that full inquiry into the matter should be made by the. Meat Board representatives in London. The large number of recently arrived immigrants who are appearing before the Courts on various charges, was referred to by Mr Harirs to-night. He, gave notice of his intention to ask the Minister of Immigration whether he will make enquiries concerning the method of selection of immigrants. A question is being asked by Mr Fraser whether the Minister-in-charge of the Penisons Department proposes to introduce legislation this session to amend the Pensions. Act in the direction of extending benefits of the legislation to deserted wives and children. The protests of the coal miners and coal owners againsf tire proposed increases in the railway tariff on coal were referred to by Air Holland in the House to-night. He said that he would ask the Alinister of Railways whether he would reconsider his decision to. increase the tariff.

The ball was kept rolling until 11.12 p.m., when the Imprest Bill went through and the House rose until 7.30 o’clock on Tuesday, to hear what Air. McLennan and Air. Hudson have to say in defence of the Government’s administration. The formal business of the evening included the first readings of Mr. Sidey’s Summer-time Bill, _ and Air. Isitt’s Religious Exercises in Schools Bill.