Flaxmill Accommodation

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 July 1913, Page 3

Flaxmill Accommodation

IN PALMERSTON DISTRICT

Erom Wednesday 's Order Paper of the House of Representatives : —

Mr Robertson to ask the; Prime Minister in his capacity as Minister of Labour, whether lie will appoint special inspectors for the purpose of properly enforcing the regulations gazetted under the provisions of the Shearers' and Agricultural Labourers' Accommodation Act as the present method of inspection seem to be totally inadequate!* 1 (Note: —The following report from a medical man in regard to the living conditions obtaining at one mill in the Paimerston North district, where a case of typhoid recently occurred shows that the regulations have been, and are likely to be, evaded, and that even the most elementary precautious against typhoid are neglected).

COPY OE REPORT

I.U Dulce-st., Paimerston N. 14th July, 1913. The Secretary, i'laxworkers'

Association

Sir,- Acting under instructions from Mr Parry, I visited Tane Mill on Manawatu River, and have to report ior your information, that 1 inspected the accommodation and general sanitation provided for the hands.

There are two sections of tents, one up-stream from the mill consisting of eleven tents, one untenanted, some with chimneys and some without, some roofed with boards and rubberoid, others with bags and . tent-fly solely. The whole in a very primitive condition as regards comfort, and with a complete neglect of sanitation. is (dean and-well-kept internally, there is 110 cesspit, and no attempt at drainage, and the roof leaks badly on the tables and must be most uncomfortable in frosty or rainy weather. The water closet accommodation is most inadequate and wrongly situated, and to my mind, is not used by the men; chloride of lime is being used, but I am informed only since the 12th inst., when the two closets were shifted and reerected within a few feet of the former site, which was roughly tilled in. The water used 111 the cook-house galley (since the 12th inst. also) is brought across the river from an artesian well, and the sample 1 saw was good, but the river water on tap below the galley range is until for human consumption, and 1 am informed this water was used for drinking purposes prior to the I.2th 111 st. The whare at the rear of the mill has bunks fixed for six ,!men but is not in a sanitary condition, nor is it tit for habitation at the present, w drainage being provided; it is not lined and the chimney is quite out of repair. The second lot of-tents down stream from the mill, four in all—in the midst of them the tent occupied by H. Sutton, who is said to be in the hospital with typhoid fever are much in keeping with the tents up-stream as regards structure and sanitation, except that beside of them is a sort of horse-shelter and tow-shed. The horse-shelter is in a very bad condition, with mud ami refuse manure mixed from Jjin. to Gin. deep. Personally 1 would condemn the whole of the accommodation provided as being most insanitary and quite unlit for continued occupation by workinginen. 1 feel quite sure the closets are not used, and the difficulty of access is such that 110 one could reasonably expect them to be used in line weather. Proper-lined wliarcs well raised from the ground with suitable chimneys should be provided, also a new cook-house and proper privies with 'thorough drainage—J. \Y. O'Brien, M.D. The Hon. Mr Massey (Minister of Labour) replied, \An officer of the Department will be instructed to visit the flaxmills in the Palmerston North district. As was stated last week, in reply to another question upon the same subject, a system of inspection has been instituted by the Department throughout the whole of the districts. where flaxmills and sawmills are situated, and in order to .facilitate the inspection the (Government have recently authorised the purchase of nine motor cycles for the use of inspectors.