INCREASE OF ACCIDENTS

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1944, Page 3

INCREASE OF ACCIDENTS

On N.Z. Wharves INQUIRY ASKED FOR. P.A. WELLINGTON. May 2. A request has been made to the Minister of Marine, Hon. J. O’Brien, for the setting up of a Commission to investigate the causes of waterfront fatalities, said Mr. T. Hill, National Secretary of tihe New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union, to-day, when commenting on an increase in the accident rate on the waterfront. Eleven' workers had been killed on the waterfronts of New Zealand in a little over a year, said Mr. Hill. Of these accidents, four had occurred at Wellington, and one at Lyttelton, in the past month. In addition, several members had been totally incapacitated, and the minor accident rate had also increased. Mr. Hill said he wishes to make it clear that the request for a commission was not an attack on any section of the employers. It was realised that the employers regretted fatalities, and the union’s hope was that the request would be granted, and that evidence would be taken from all parties concerned, and that out of it would come decisions which would ensure greater safety to the men loading and discharging ships in New Zealand.