ACCIDENTS ON WHARVES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17323, 24 May 1918, Page 5

ACCIDENTS ON WHARVES

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY. (P*k United Pbess Associatioh.) o . WELLINGTON, May 23. Before the Commission of Inquiry into accidents on wharves, Mr Nicholls, secretary of the Wellington Harbour Board, stated that during the last 18 months there had been no accidents 011 tho Wellington wharves owing to faulty gear. There had i°"u accidents in that period, 81.3 of which entailed absence from work of three weeks and under. From 1907 to 1917 thero was 110 increase in tho percentage of accidents to men engaged. In 1908 the average rate of accident pay was £4 53 2d. For the past six months it was £3 16s. During the past 10 years there had been only four fatal accidents. Captain Dawson, harbour master, said he thought it would be an advantage to all concerned if the work of inspection was carried out b v one authoritv. The harbour regulations should' be revised and consolidated. Evidence for the harbour boards and shipping companies was concluded, and the evidence of waterside workers was begun. The evidence of the workers was generally m rcspcct of the inspection of gear and fixing of cleats to T-iron. Unsatisfactory comwas. a l so made regarding hatchways, lho chairman said the commission had already come to the conclusion that an improvement was wanted wittf regard to I-iron.