TIMBER WORKERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18612, 21 July 1922, Page 6

TIMBER WORKERS

DEPUTATION TO PRIME MINISTER. RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEATHS AND ACCIDENTS. (Pi* United Proas Ahsootatxoi.) WELLINGTON, July 20. Delegates from the recent conference of INew Zealand Timber Workers’ Federation on the Prime Minister, the Minister nu r ° r ks, and the Minister in Charge of the Inspection of Machinery today. The deputation held that the Government, a« it had not taken the necessary steps to enforce the inspection of bush tramways, was directly responsible for deaths °nd injuries which had taken place. The Hon. J. G. Coates said it was evident that his instructions had miscarried, as he had instructed that all applications by representatives of workers for the inspection of tramways and bridges were to be granted. The Hon. G. J. Anderson said his instructions were that the utmost care should always be taken to preserve human life. ■He sard he would also look into the subject of accommodation for married men. Mr Massey said he would ask the Minister of Labour for a report on the proposal of the deputation that royalty of one penny per hundred feet be paid on all timber for fhe purpose of establishing a fund from which tno_ Government could subsidise a workers’ sick and accident fund. The matter might be dealt with this session. He would have inquiries made into the statements made as to the disposal of timber lands on the West Coast.