SAFETY ON WATERFRONT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17211, 18 August 1919, Page 6

SAFETY ON WATERFRONT

INSPECTION OF GEAR. SEVEN OFFICIALS TO ACT. [BY TELEGRAPH.OWN CORRESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Saturday. A deputation of watersiders to the Minister for Marine, the Hon. T. M. Wilford, this morning urged, among other things, the appointment of inspectors of gear used on the waterfront. In reply the Minister said the Cabinet had authorised him to appoint seven inspectors for New Zealand. Two of these would be stationed in Auckland, two in Wellington, one at Lyttelton, and two at Ehmedin. A member of the deputation said he thought some simpler method of dealing with defective ropeS was needed. During last year there had been 317 accidents on the Wellington waterfront. They were still hoping for improvement. The Minister referred to the fact that the commission which inquired into waterside accidents brought about new regulations. The Cabinet the previous day had given him power to appoint inspectors, and they would be appointed as soon as possible. Formerly ex-captains of ships had received appointments as inspectors, but under the new regulations anybody could be appointed who was fit for the job. They would have power to say that a rope was defective and a new one must be substituted. Hulks would come under the new regulations, and the harbour board gear would also be subject to inspection. He did not think any employers ehould have the right to have their own ' inspectors.