WATERFRONT ACCIDENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17328, 30 May 1918, Page 4

WATERFRONT ACCIDENTS

COMMISSION FINISHES AT CHRISTCHURCH. NO SITTING FURTHER SOUTH. (Pn Umitko Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, May 29. The commission investigating the causes of accidents on tho waterfront oonclbded its sittings at Lyttelton to-day. John Flood, secretary of the local union, attributed most of the accidents to the excessive size of slings or faulty gear. He condemned tho practice of allowing one man to drive two winches. In reply to a question as to _ whether tho waterside workers were doing as much work in a stated time as formerly, witness jrave it as his opinion that the withdrawal of the most competent men from tho waterfront for military servico tended to maike men loth to take risks by placing so much dependence upon less experienced men. Evidence was" given by representatives of shipping companies and others ae to the inspection of gear, which, it was contended, was in good order. At the conclusion of tho sitting the Hon. T. M. Wilford said.it would be impossible for the commission to sit at Port Chalmers, Bluff. Cisborne, and Wanganui. Matters that would have come under the commission's notice at those ports -would have to be dealt with at Napier. The commission adjourned until next Tuesday, at Napier.