STONEMASONS' DISPUTE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 17

STONEMASONS' DISPUTE.

'< OBJECTIONS TO MACHINE. COURT RESERVES DECISION. Tho hearing of tho stonemasons' dispute was concluded in the Arbitration Court yesterday. Before (ho Court resumed, tho president, Mr. Justice Frazer, and Messrs. L. J. bchmitt (employers' assessor) and A. L. Monteith (employees' assessor) spent an hour and a-half watching the disputed pneumatic machines at work at the new railway station building and handling them. Tho statement that a man would become art expert polisher within three months was made by George Mason, r master mason. Witness added (hat tho man would become a good polisher in much less time than that. Evidence as to tho places whew tho _ dunter" pneumatic surfacing machine is in use and its effect on health was given h.y Barklay Bell, director of the JngerE °ll Rand Company. There were about 46 users of this machine in the eastern States of Australia. The machines were all of stand,tid size and none of (hem smaller than the machines inspected by the Court at the station that morning. He quoted scientific evidence in support of the contention that the dust created by this machine was too coarse - to bo really dangerous. His Honor said he had understood that, water could be used for (lie first two operations of the machine, but that was undes/rable to use it for the final finishing work. Ho suggested that the dust niight be blown away. The witness said Iho rock drills used h y miners in New Zealand were of much S'eater energy than the "duntcr machipe, but he had yet to hear of a miner who suffered from the effects of •the rock drill. Mr. Wright said the employers were prepared to do anything to minimise the Jls k, and demonstrated in Court the use c ' an approved type of mask. His Honor said these were awkward „ - t°'use, and should only lie adopted as a last resort. . Mr. Pni tell said the men would rather the risk than use them The Court reserved its decision.