WATERSIDE ACCIDENTS COMMISSION

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 227, 13 June 1918, Page 7

WATERSIDE ACCIDENTS COMMISSION

J3VIDIINCE TAKJCN AT PORT chalmer!;.

By Telegraph.—Press Association.

, PI ~ . Dunadin, June 12. i lie tonimissioii to impure regardini; accidents on the waterfronts sal; at; Port Chalmers to-day. The first witness was A. D. Ashor. waterside worker, who said lie had experience of the system, of fumigation of ships' hoids, and regarded such 1 limitation «i»s unsafe. Xlio fuinigunLs ii<jp(i wqtv. most poisonous and J hey generated gas which was unbealthv allecting the men in tho chest and head. Witness had given up fumigation because i ■ was too dangerous. They saw lo it that the escape door was safe for all engaged to leave the ship. AVitness thought the opciwitions should lie under a medical board and a ([iialifbd mail should carry the fumigation. They had made suggestions of improvements of methods, and some improvements had resulted. Alexander Miller, waterside worker, considered the system of fumigating ships a bit risky. The man in charge should understand the chemistry of the acids used. j Henry Hornby thought tho landing far supporting the ends of batches should be wider than they generally were. The lighting on the wharf was insufficient, and the deck lighting oil Home stea/ners in some cases useless. Prevention guys would bo an additional factor for safety A ship's working gear should be examined when she camo into port. James Thompson suggested that all beams bo thwartship, this being more safely put ill position or removed. Frederick Holden said that sufficient care was not tak-m when men were working in tanks and bilges. Robert Pryde gave evidence regarding badly fitting hatches and defective sliii"" Other evidence related to the danger "of accidents in docks through men having to stand on stages, and lo accidents (o men engaged in boiler v.ork through defective vajve„s. It was slated liat efficiency ou tho waterfront hud decretscd during (bo past two years owing to several hundred experienced meu going away. The Commission will "e-it al Dunediu ! o-morrow.