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H.—lsa

Fumigation of Vessels. —Evidence was taken dealing with the fumigation of vessels. Instances of men being " gassed " were given the Commission, but though many suggestions were made we felt that it would be wise to decide lo ask Dr. Maclaurin to prepare suggested regulations to deal with this very technical matter, and a recommendation to that effect was unanimously agreed upon. We feel, however, that something should be done, and done quickly. Vessels in Dry Dock or on Patent Slip. —The Commission decided that a regulation was required imposing a penalty in the event of the foreman in charge of work on a vessel in dry dock or on patent slip failing to notify the engineer before the propeller of a ship in dock or on patent slip is turned. Such a practice of turning the propeller while men were working on planks or stages or in the vessels had resulted in accidents, and may easily result in fatalities. Stanchion and Ilwndrail to Gangway-plank. —The Commission agreed that the gangway-plank to the deck-head of staging on a ship's side should in every case have a set of stanchions and a handrail attached to one side of the plank. Discharge-pipes and Latrines. —The Commission recommended that all discharge-pipes and latrines, &c, on board a ship in dock or on patent slip should be locked while men were working on stages on a ship's side. Gleaning Boilers. —The Commission agreed that if the stop-valve of the "working" boiler was locked while boilers were being cleaned it would minimize the risk of accident, and that when cleaning boilers men should not be required to at a temperature-of more than 100°. Deck Load on Lighters. —The Commission was of opinion that the time had arrived when some responsible official should decide the " deck load " to be carried on lighters, and the position which such deck load should occupy on such lighters. We agreed that a competent officer of the Marine Department should in each case be appointed for that purpose, and that a competent officer of the Marine Department should also decide, when required so to do, what space below should be left clear for men loading or discharging lighters. Number of Gangs to work in a Hold. —The Commission recognized that to have arrived at an agreement in regard to the question of who should decide the number of gangs to work in a hold was certainly of interest to the waterfront, and generally to those who received or shipped cargo. All interested agreed that the decision in this very important matter should be left to the Inspector of Gear under the Marine Department, whose finding should bind all parties: In view of what had happened in past years, and the very vexed questions which had arisen through the obligation not having been placed on any person to decide the question, the Commission felt sure all would be gratified that a solution had been found for the difficulty, and it was to be hoped now that a decision had been come to that all would loyally abide by that decision, which was come to unanimously. Unfit to Work. —lt was agreed by all interests in the Commission that the Inspector of Gear was the officer who should decide whether a man was unfit to work through the influence of liquor, and, in the event of a regulation being framed and brought into force to give effect to the finding, the Waterside Workers' Union agreed to undertake to support the decision of such Inspector. Cargo for Particular Ports. —The Commission was of opinion that the Inspector of Gear should decide whether the method of loading or unloading cargo into or from a ship's hold for a particular port was a safe one having regard to the safety of the men working such hold. Up till now there had been many disputes and troubles relating to this question, and though the Commission had taken evidence in regard to accidents only it was felt by the members that the words in recommendation, " safe for working," brought the recommendation within the order of reference. Ships' Bunkers and Electric Light. —The Commission found that some ships provided electric light for men working bunkers and some did not. It was considered that electric light was safer than any other known light, and it agreed that that light should be provided whenever current was available. The recommendations to which the foregoing refers are appended. Signed on behalf of the Commission. Thomas M. Wii.ford, Chairman. Remarks by the Chairman. The last-menfioned recommendations are the unanimous decisions of the members of the Commission, and I must say that the evidence warrants the findings and justifies action on the lines suggested. The recommendations lettered from "A" to "I," and which are appended, have been decided by me as Chairman after hearing the arguments of the members of the Commission and carefully and thoroughly reviewing the evidence tendered at the various ports. Some if these recommendations were unanimously agreed upon with the exception of details which were left to me to finally decide. Representations have been made for many years by watersiders for a Commission to examine into the question of accidents on waterfronts, which unfortunately are of daily occurrence, and this Commission was set up by the Cabinet on my recommendation, not with the idea of providing a method of eliminating the "inevitable" accident, which must always be present in every walk of life, but with the idea of reducing the number of accidents that can be labelled " preventable." That such accidents will be reduced if the recommendations are given effect to by Parliament I have no doubt, and I am also voicing the opinions of Captain McArthur and Messrs. Marchbanks, Glover, and Roberts when I say that many methods of safeguarding those engaged in waterside work have been found as the result of this searching inquiry. The fact that no less than twentyseven new methods of dealing with waterside work have been unanimously agreed upon by the

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