FLAXMILL HANDS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1775, 13 June 1913, Page 7

FLAXMILL HANDS.

LIVING CONDITIONS.

NEW HOUSING .REGULATIONS.

Prior to last session of Parliament an agitation was raised which aimed at securing better housing conditions for iiairniU workers. A Departmental report was obtained, and subsequently the subject was ventilated in tno House of l'upresontatives, with the result that an amendment to tho Shearers' and Agricultural .Labourers' Accommodation Act was piaced upon tho Statute book, extending tho provisions of tho Act to the llaxnuil and sawmill workers. Regulations prescribing the conditions under which accommodation must be provided for theso workers' are published in tho current "Uazette." . It is provided that where the inspector is satisfied that the sleeping or other accommodation provided by any; employer before tho coming into force of tlieso regulations substantially meets their requirements, ho shall sanction the use by that employer of such accommodation for the workers employed by liiin.. The regulations deal with buildings, water supply, and sanitation. It is provided that buildings must be raised six inches off the ground, except where concrete floors are used. Booms are to bo lined internally. Other provisions arc Every sleeping-room shall be of dimensions as will provide not less than 100 cubic feet of air-space and 45 square feet of floor space for each, person to be accommodated therein, and shall bo not less than Bft. in height in any P"t. lor the purposes of this regulation the inspector may post up v in a conspicuous place in any sfeoping-room a notice specifying tho maximum number of persons that may bo accommodated therein; provided that not moro than two persons shall be required to sleep in any one room. ~ , ... Each bunk shall be provided with a spring mattress or a mattress 01 ciiait» straw, or kapoc. .... ~ . Separate rooms shall m all cases bo provided for sleeping and for meals. JSo person shall be required or permitted to sleep in any room whero food is usually kept, or in any place insufficiently shut off from such room. x , Suitable heating appliances shall be provided in some convenient room to the satisfaction of the inspector. Provision shall also bo made for the washing and drying of workers' clothes. Ample window space and ventilation, and efficient sanitary conveniences are to be provided. Also an ample supply of wholesome water, to the satisfaction of the District Health Officer. ' Where any elecping-room has ceaseU to be occupied for any period I f xceecl ' l }° twenty-eight days, it shall bo thoroughly scrubbed or otherwise cleaned by the employer before it is again occupied. .Luring occupation the sleeping-rooms shall bo kept clean by tho occupants. The employer shall duriDg the period of occupation cause all other accommodation to bo kept in a cleanly state to tho satisfaction of the inspector. , Suitable ambulance appliances to the satisfaction of the District o n^® r i shall be provided at every flaxmill and at every sawmill. . , Permission may be given to «so approved temporary accommodation lor Lot longer than three months at one timo. In the case of flaxmill employees, the inspector shall not grant a permit for tho nse of temporary accommodation tor moro than two consecutive periods of three months each, unless tho accommodation is moved at least one hundred yards. Theso regulations, bo far nfe they relate to sleeping accommodation, shall not apply in any case where the workers employed by any employer could, in the opinion o£ the inspector, conveniently reside at it boardinghouse situated not more than a mile from the place of employment, or in any case whero suchi place' of Employment is within, or within a tqilo of a boTOUL'h orMtowiL.clistrJOt-.'rri At any flaxmill whero'steam is used tho employer shall, if so required by tho District liealth Officer and the inspector by writing under their- hands, provide a shower-bath, with a sufficient hot and cold-water supply, for the use of the workers employed at such mm.