Grey River Argus and Blackball News TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1922. TIMBER WORKERS.

Grey River Argus, 25 July 1922, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1922. TIMBER WORKERS.

H•Dr 1. ■ jing in Gr< -itr X a, B trsund, Taylo. ,Jlc. CroiuUun. |= • Nr-' m: >n Creek. Brunner, Te s , k. .Jrua, Inchbonnie, Pafara, Rvru, Kx .-.a, K >tuk’.» Mona, Aratika, Biinarifia, == Dmioliv:. Cvodeu, Baxter's, Kokiri, Ahaura, Ikainatua Stillwater Waiuta, Reefton, Ross. Ruatapua, Mana nut, H.in Han, Waihc Gorge, Weheka. Rewanut Otira, hu.ngahua Junction, Westport. Waimangaraa, g| Denniston, Granity, Millerton. Ngakawau. Hector, Seddoa vilL i. Cape Foul wind. and Karam*”

gH THERE were some remarkable fea- ■ tures about the Ministerial replies last jS week to a deputation from the Timber B i w orkers Dominion Conference. None if , of these Ministers seemed adequately S . informed as to whether the laws gov- ■ I erning the safety of workers in the [J milling industry arc being enforced B ■ fully and generally. The Public Works U Minister, for instance, said in regard to the inspection of bush tramway bri- . dges: “It would seem that some instructions had miscarried!" Now, who is to see that instructions, when they arc given, are also carried out? Who neglects to carry them out? The Minister did not “seem" to know! i 1 The request of the deputation that where milling firms go bankrupt, wages should be the first charge, instead of ’ coming after the rent, salaries, mortgages, and liquidation expenses, is eminently reasonable. On the Coast i 1 there are workers who have suffered through the absence of such a law. It ■ was pointed out to the Government • that the Bush Tramway Act was a . dead letter after its passing for quite ( a long time, there being a delay in gaz--1 ’ etting regulations, and the Government i was to blame for fatalities that occurred, one where a locomotive fell ‘ through a bridge. Mr Coates admit- . ted bridges needed inspection, but ■ what is wanted is not an admission, ' but a regular inspection, and a casual •examination “once in a blue moon"— ' is useless. It is no satisfaction to be |l {told a responsible Minister “ didn't I ’know what had gone wrong;" and H ’that he “didn’t think regulations were ■j .! needed, as the Act was clear enough." I I j If the Act is a dead letter, it matters I i not- if it he the most explicit ever J, i passed. It is a belated satisfaction !' ■ to find Mr Coates saying he wanted to |] I make the present organisation satis- , ’ factory if it is not yet so. Likewise it is satisfactory to ■ ■ hear Mr Massey give a sort i ; of guarded promise to levy Id per 100 | ; feet on timber in aid of the workers , | sick and accident insurance funds, si- ’ milarlv to the coal levy for the miners.