WORKERS’ HEALTH

Grey River Argus, 24 July 1923, Page 6

WORKERS’ HEALTH

Representations To Government The following is the copy of a letter sent to Mr Massey, detailing the findings of a commission set up by the Canterbury Trades Council to deal with the better heating, ventilating, etc., of factories:— ‘‘Canterbury Trades and Labour Council, Trades, Hall, Christchurch, 20th July, 1923. —To the Honourable W. F. Massey, Prime Minister of New Zealand, Wellington. Sir, —I have been instructed to forward you the following resolutions: — (I) That the Government be approached to take steps immediately to set up a committee drawn from the employers and employees affected to act under the Conciliation Commissioner in each centre to bring about improvement in the heating, ventilation, sanitary and hygienic conditions of factories and workrooms. (2) That no building shall be registered for factory or workroom until an expert shall declare that the heating, ventilating and sanitary conveniences arc up to tho health, comfort and needs of tho workers. (3) The offices of the Government buildings in Christchurch are a good example of what a workroom and factory should be. (4) That in many cases where unions have complained about the lack of heat in factories and workrooms gas heaters have been installed making the cure "worse than the disease, inasmuch ns the air has been fouled and good health made impossible. The organised workers, therefore, arc convinced that the only way to bring about any improvement is on the lines suggested above.— I am, yours faithfully, W. J. Green, Secretary.”