30,877 Waiting For Treatment

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31087, 16 June 1966, Page 3

30,877 Waiting For Treatment

(New Zetland Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 15. The Minister of Health (Mr McKay) said in Parliament today that 30,877 persons were on waiting lists for admission to public hospitals throughout New Zealand.

The waiting lists had Increased slightly in recent years, he said. He was replying to Mr R. L. Bailey (Opp., Heretaunga). Dust Control The Factories Amendment Bill introduced by the Minister of Labour (Mr Shand) lists precautions to be taken where dust is liable to cause an explosion in factories. The precautions include en-

closure of processing plant, removal or prevention of accumulation of dust, and exclusion or effective enclosure of possible sources of ignition. Legislation on the control of dust was recommended by the Commission of Inquiry into the explosion in a plastics factory in Masterton in April, 1966, in which four persons were killed and four hurt. The bill was given a second reading pro forma and is now with the Labour and Mines Committee. Safety Breaches

A Construction Amendment Bill introduced today will permit the appointment of safety inspectors to remedy safety breaches under any act and, if necessary, to take prosecutions. The Courts recently held that present law empowered safety inspectors to enforce only measures provided for in the Construction Act. Seeking Pension A petition by James Mark Walsh, of 10 Nicholls street, Richmond, Christchurch, asking for an increase in his war disability pension, was presented by Mr H. J. Walker (Govt., St. Albans). The petitioner said that after serving four years in World War II he was in indifferent health. He had been granted a temporary 100 per cent disability pension, but this had been reduced to a permanent 25 per cent disability pension. Repeated appeals had failed. He was no longer able to undertake full employment.

The plea was referred to the Petitions Committee.