The Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1873.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1726, 8 September 1873, Page 2

The Star. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1873.

jT_he desirability of instituting periodica] inspections of steam boilers within ibe city was recently brought under the notice of the City Council. The subject was recognised as one of great importance, and the Provincial Government were conferred with on the subject. Ultimately, at the suggestion s>f the Provincial Secretary, his Worship the Mayor wrote io his Honor I&e Superintendent, requesting him ■from his place in the House of Representatives to bring the matter under Hebe netiee of the General Govern -soent, with the view of getting an Act applicable to the whole colony passed, providing for inspection of boilers by competent persons, and giving power to restrain their owners from working aneh as should be found to be in an ax_safe condition. Accordiogly Mr -Solleston brought the matter forward m the shape of a question, — "Whether £l_e Government propose to introduce, during the present session, any reguSions providing for the proper inspection of steam boilers and machinery, with a view to the safety of life and property ? He said that in going into the matter he had found it to be one ■sf greater magnitude than he had at srst imagined, and referred to tbe fact fcbat in England it had been made the sabject of a parliamentary enquiry extending over a period of two years. Be read extracts from the report of fthe Manchester Steam Association, allowing the conclusions at which f&at body arrived, after carefal consideration of the subject. The principal points of these were that the lives of all living near so dangerous an instrument as a boiler, or ©yen casually passing by, are seriously Jeopardised unless suitable precautions are adopted to ascertain whether tbe -boiler be safe and trustworthy, and if _aot> to render it so ; that most of those sribo have suffered from explosions bave fed no voice in the management of the BtoflerSj,, and thus were helplessly Ttctwireed j and lastly, that the majority of explosions arose from aegftgence either as regards original construction, inattention of users and ibeir servants, neglect of proper repairs, thoughtlessness of setting and ofiier causes, but they were principally S___& fcult of ths boiler maker rather ifcatr €Be Boiler-mender, and chiefly «apable,'th«refore, of being prevented ly inspection. Aii flc&4 sight it would appear that t&ere could not be two opinions as to the desirability of the institution of a system of Government inspection. The Committee of the British House of (SJommors, however, took a different ww, and reported in favour of the infliction of pains and penalties on feoiier-owners who allowed their boilers 8» explode, and would afford to tbose -»ho might be injured by such explosions greater facilities for recovering compensation. Eor tbe better ■attainment of these objects they .recommended " tbat it be distinctly Said down by Statute that the steam user is responsible for the efficiency of iis boilers and machinery, and for employing competent men to work ihem. (b) That in the event of explosion the onus of proof of efficiency aball rest on the steam user, (c) That im order to raise- prima Jade proof it shall be sufficient to show that the feoiler was, at the time of the explosion, aaderthe management ofthe owner, or vser, or bis servant, and such prima fnpie proof shall only be rebutted by groof that the accident arose from some cause beyond the control of sucb vser or owner, and that it shall be no defence in an action by a servant against such owner or user, that the damage arose from the negligence of a fellow servant, (d) That when an «sp\osion takes place the Coroner shall Broid an enquiry, and his investigation aball be assisted by a practical surveyor af tbe Board of Trade. We give this full quotation, because Mr Rolleston made, and the Minister for Public Works subsequently conjfirmed, a statement that the Government held views identical with tibos« expressed in it, and had em bodied similar provisions in a draft \ai\ they had prepared, but which thej feared could not be dealt with during t&e present session. This i# to be re-

gretted, more especially as there is : great and growing necessity for legis lation in tbis direction, and alsi because the plan proposed seems to bi better calculated than any other t< meet the case. By increasing stean owners' feelings of responsibility, i will afford greater security agains accidents than any amount of Govern ment inspection would be likely tc yield. It will cause owners to b< particular as to the quality of ma ehinery they use, and as to the ordei in which it is kept — make then their own inspectors in fact. Th. other plan involves a certain amoun: of Government interference witl private industry, and where this ii avoidable, it should be avoided.