COUNTRY MILLS AND SANITATION, ETC.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1012, 19 October 1912, Page 2

COUNTRY MILLS AND SANITATION, ETC.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Being a constant reader of your paper, I would like to ask for a space in your columns wherein I may say something in reference to the above. Some time back I was working at a country mill, and also lived within the accommodation provided for the employees, at the sum of 14s per week, I might say that the food provided was wholesome ; enough, and plenty of it, too, but there was something that seemed to take one’s appetite away, and that was the surroundings in which we had to live. First of all, the sleeping accommodation was not in the least healthy, the apartment being just a shed provided with bunks. It is true there was a wooden floor —where in some cases there is nothing but the soil. No beds were provided other than those which the mill hands devised, which had to be either of tow or macrocarpa. Most of us know that tow makes excellent beds for microbes, etc., which makes one sleep uneasy. The only illumination at night was perhaps a candle —also provided by mill hands. The beds were seldom made, which, ot course, gave a worse appearance to the domicile. There was no washs basin provided, so, as the river was near, the men had to wash therein. There were no spittoons, so the men spat on the floor. We all know that such things as this must cause disease, as the floors were ndver scrubbed, only swept occasionaUy. We come to the dining-room again. The tables are set for a number of men. You are eating your porridge, perhaps, and there are a dozen cockroaches waiting round the edge of your plate for you to finish ; but that’s not all, they will help themselves if you don’t hurry. Now, there is no lavatory supplied for men —or there was not in my case, which, perhaps may be an exception. Anyway, such inconveniences and surroundings are not likely to attract good workmen. The water required lor cooking, drinking and washing was taken from the river} the river wherein carcases of beasts and sometimes human bodies have been laying for weeks. Therefore, we cannot wonder at contagion reigning at some of these country mills. Men (married men) who have found work at these country mills sacrifice a good deal by leaving their good homes to toil for those dependent on them by having to put up with the surroundings above mentioned and stand a chance ot contracting some malady also. I might suggest a few rules for country mills to adopt, they may be useful and will be a benefit to the worker and not a great loss to the miller. Rule for. sleeping accommodation, good beds and lighting with attendant for same, no smoking allowed in this apartment, attendant for dining room, to keep it in order between meals, good supplies of clean rain water, lavatories and bathrooms six of each, with attendant for same, one man to do the lot, bedroom-dining and bathroom, etc. The w.c, to be fitted with vacant and engaged locks. In the dining-room notices should be posted up : Those who expectorate must not expect to rate as gentlemen. Well, sir, I think I have given my observations clearly and hope that whoever has charge of the health department will have a chat to the men who are so good in providing the above accommodation for their employers. Thanking you in anticipation and hoping I have not taken too much space. I am etc.— Benchy.

P.S,—The lavatory system might also apply to the millers along the local bank as the present conveniences are getting beyond a joke.