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Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 28

“ Safety first ” is one of the slogans in the railway world, but the General Manager of Railways points out in the current issue of the New Zealand Railways Magazine that although the need is recognised for taking precautions and eliminating, as far as is consistent with practical working conditions, all elements of undue risk, yet the accident rate appears to be on the increase. The figures as shown in the Railway Statements covering the payments made to workers from 1926 to 1930 show that there has been a steady increase of payments made for accidents during the period. The actual figures for the years are:—l927, £34,809; 1928. £41,198; 1929, £44,344; 1930, £47,890. Although during the period under review amendments to the Wor* kers Compensation for Accident Act have given the employee some increased benefits, the facts indicate that the accident figures show an upward tendency. This suggests that there is room for action to reduce this growing loss.” Mr Sterling goes on to mention “ safety first ” campaigns on overseas railways faced with a similar situation, and he concludes: “ I believe that the New Zealand workers compare favourably with their American cousins in their capacity to observe ‘ safety first ’ principles and that what has. been achieved in America should be possible here. My earnest desire is to obtain the active interest of all ranks in bringing about this result.”

The past month was the wettest September experienced at Oturehua since 1919, there being 15 wet days, with 2.80 inches of rain. The rains (says our own correspondent) were mostly cold, with snow on the higher levels. The Hawkdun Mountains are coveted with snow almost to the foot. It is rare to see such an unbroken sheet of snow on these mountains in the month of October.