PREMIER ON WEST COAST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 829, 30 May 1910, Page 9

PREMIER ON WEST COAST.

THE OTIRA TUNNEL CASE.

(By TelccraDh.—Press Association-' Reefton, May 27. Tho Prime Minister arrived at .Reefton to-day, and was formally welcomed. He received deputations from tho Inangahua Minors' TJnion re tho rider added to tho verdict of tho jury in tho Otira accident- case. Mr. Botts strongly impressed on tho Prime Minister .to adequately protect workers at the tunnel, and incidentally at all underground work. Tho Prime Minister rc-plied that tho Government had soriously considered tho rider given at the inquest, and was taking every possible'stop to see that the health and'safety of the workers were protected in every possiblo way. ■It was tho main idea of the Government to do all possible in the way of providing safeguards. The Minister of the' Department concerned had tho matter under careful consideration. Of course they had to take care lest they imposed oil the conditions of the contract. , Tho contractors also were anxious to do their ■ host to preserve tho health and safety of their employees. Strong exception was taken by tho Chamber of Commerce and County Council to tho administration of tho Nelson Land Board,'and a deputation urged the opening of the thousands of acres lving dormant. The 'Prime Minister was afterwards entertained at lunchcon.

Greymouth, May 28. The Prime Minister and party le!t early tliis morning by special train and coach to Cnss, where a special carriage and engine were ill waiting to . convoy them to the Broken River (rain in time to catch the Maori at li.vtt-elto.il to-night, completing the through journey in under yj hours. This is the second'train run between Cass and Broken River, the former being on tlio occasion of t-lio Tsealev Tunnel accident.

The Prime Minister, in unveiling a memorial tablet yesterday, paid a high enloginm to the lain Mr. Joseph _Petrio'fnr his long and valnablo services to Cireymouth.