HARBOR LIGHTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 December 1918, Page 5

HARBOR LIGHTS.

To the Editor.

To the Editor. Sir,—With your kind permission r' would like to make a' further statement re above all important matter to the waterside workers. The members of the Harbor Board have been for a considerable time conducting ft very strenuous campaign in the country in favor of ft loan for harbor improvements, etc. Apart from this those gentlemen have large business interests of their own to attend to. Probably it was owing to this, although various . attempts were made to get an inspeeffbn aT night of the lighting, etc., on the wharf, but without success. 'The watersiders were, in the meantime, as I stated in my previous letter, working under unsafe conditions. The men then instructed their executive to at once endeavor to remedy matters. Hence the action taken, which, under the circumstances, was reasonable and proper Just a few comments re that remarkable and very interesting report relighting, etc. True, there is much light < awav at the top of those long poles (twinkle, twinkle little star, I wonder why you are up so far!). Unfortunately the light is not where it is required, and in this respect reminds one of the Dutchman's anchor that was at home when required for use at sea .Now we have it on the authority of our secretary that the stevedore on the Home ship was not satisfied with the lighting on the wharf inquiries re this are being made, and appropriately I hope more light will be thrown on this matter. It is quite true the Home ships worked at night in this port, but lot it be understood that those ships are provided with wood lights, not only for the ship, but also provide a good light from the ship's side, thus enabling men .to work trucks, etc., on the wharf under good lighting conditions adn making up for deficiency in wharf lights. It is stated that the Corinna is the only boat without electric lighting. I can name a number of other boats without electrie lights that cpnie to this port. The letter of Mr 6'Shea,' acting stationmaster, to the Harbor Board re the wharf, foreman complaining re bad lighting on the wharf, etc.. states that lights along'the centre of the wharf are defective, and -' not of much use when boats are dis- ■ charging at night, and that there are no ; lights at side of wharf where they are '. ■ required for loading and unloading ' operations. The wharf laborers are ', continually complaining -of the danger . of being knocked off the trucks whea receiving cargo at night owing to want , of proper lighting, etc. Nuff sed. Now | good lighting on.tlio wharf is a sound ; business proposition, and, as we are J dealing with practical business men, I feel confident and hope that we will . have more lights and still more light, and feel safe to work at night.—l am, etc., W H. FITZHERBERT, President Waterside Workers' Union. '

Sir,—Mr. Henderson, superintendent of the wharf at Moturoa, states that lie considers the wharf sufficiently lighted. I beg to differ from him. I have worked on the wharf foi over a year, loading, unloading, and sheeting railway trucks. On two occasions I have been knocked out of trucks on to the wharf while unloading coal from ships by coal baskets, owing to faulty lighting at the ship's side at night. On several occasions I have had narrow escapes from falling in the harbor while sheeting trucks at night owing to faulty lighting; in fact, sometimes it is very black on the wharf on the steamer's aide of the trucks. I can ''• endorse Mr. Fitzpatrick's remarks, The* ';■ era made perhaps just before some poor * ; follow gels a watery grave. I consider. ''i it unsafe to work at night with tue pre- '$ sent lighting at the wharf —I am, etc., ,|| ' C. ULLMIiR. $ Aeat Plymouth. Dee. 23. : , *s