EXPLOSIVES IN GARBAGE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8360, 21 February 1913, Page 10

EXPLOSIVES IN GARBAGE

MENACE TO LIVES OF DESTRUCTOR WORKERS. Recent happenings at the corporation destructor, where workmen hare narrowly escaped very serious injury from explosives mingled with the garbage, have led the City Council to take some steps to protect its employees. Last night it adopted a recommendation by the finance committee: “That a corporation refuse collector be advised to take action for damages against a householder for injuries received, and that the services of the city solicitor bo granted him for the purpose; and also that the city solicitor and city engineer confer and draft a by-law to prevent householders from placing chemicals and explosives in rubbish receptacles.” In explanation of the committee's recommendation the Mayor, Mr D. McLaren, stated that gunpowder, cartridges, and corrosives had been carelessly sent to the destructor among garbage. He considered that it waa now about time that citizens began to consider their responsibilities in the matter. Men had been seriously injured by the presence of such dangerous substances in the garbage receptacles. He hoped that tho citizens would take note of this. Questioned by a councillor, Mr McLaren said that tho collector referred to in the recommendation had been neriously burned by canister soda which bad been placed in the garbage tin. This was only one case out of many. The council also adopted a recommendation by the by-laws committee that in future any person depositing explosives in rubbish receptacles be prosecuted.