WORK AND ALCOHOL.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 819, 16 November 1905, Page 25

WORK AND ALCOHOL.

The theory that alcohol stimulants enable a man to do better work for long hours is evidently supported by the majority of those engaged in the duty o£ lumping coal (says the “Sydney Telegraph” in a recent issue. A witness in the Arbitration Court, Herbert Neilsen, a member of the Coal Lumpers’ Union, said he took spirits with him down the harbour when working on a long job of over 12 hours, and found it absolutely necessary to do so in order that he should get through the long hours. He admitted that he could do the work if he did not drink the spirits, but at the same time his opinion was that if he did he was able to do better work. In answer to a question by Mr W. M.

Hughes, witness said that any number of men took spirits in the sarnie way when working these long hours; there were only about one or two of every eight or ten who did not. Judge. Heydon, while admitting, that the witness was the best judge'" of his own case, and his own personal opinion held that there were very few men who would not do their work better if . they took no spirits at all. Witness explained, with an air of protest, that he took the spirits mixed in water , but His Honor hastened to assure him that he did not reproach him for it. Indeed, the witness, he added, was the picture of a man in perfect condition. Here, it may be added, is clearly a case where tl.e conditions and nature of the work in which the lumper was engaged are so totally different from those of Judge Heyden that the latter’s personal opinion is not ap-

plicable. The chances are if His .Honor was on a coal lumping job for twelve -hours his personal would be subject ..to considerable variation.