TIMBER WORKERS

Grey River Argus, 1 July 1925, Page 3

TIMBER WORKERS

SEND DEPUTATION I To Labour Minister (Special to Argus.) WELLINGTON, -lune 3(1. Yesterday morning a deputation from the New Zealand Timber Work ers’ Federation, composed of Mr F Turley (Secretary of the Timber Workers’ Federation), and -Mr 1.. Glover (Alliance of Labour), waited on (he Minister of Labour. The deputation was introduced by Mr .1. O’Brien. Member for AVestTand. Mr Turley slated that lie had just come from the King Country, and he had found that the workers’ accommodation at the sawmills there was in a disgraceful state. At some of the mills, tlie houses were unlined, and were roofed with rubberoid only. The rooms were draughty, and were mil as required by the Act. No drinking water was provided al :i number of the mills. He specially urged that attention should be given to the sanitary arrangemenls, in the interests of public health. At some of the mills llm roofs of the houses leaked that badly that in rainy weather, there was not a dry room in the house, and with others there was mi sanitary building of any description. This was particularly dangerous in the mosquito-infested areas, lie had interviewed the head of the Labour Department last March. and had asked for an inspection t.. be made, but as ho had been in the King Country only last week, he found that the e.mlitious there were as bad ns ever. In fact nothing had been dune. The Minister replied to the eli'e.-t that the Department Imd laid an in--neetbiii imide, and the report was to Imnd. The offending inillov ners were notified to have the houses put in order. and to have the water and sanitary arrangements brought up to the Regulations before the 31st "i duly, else action would lie taken. He would Pave another inspection mane. and would see that flu' work was done.