39

H.—ll

Nelson and Blenheim. Mr. S. Tyson reports :— During the period the building trade has been fairly busy. Forty notices of intention to erect scaffolding over 16 ft. in height have been received, and visits of inspection made to all principal towns in the district where scaffolding was being erected. 130 building permits were issued during the year by local authorities. A considerable amount of trouble is still given by carpenters and painters using batten ladders, and, when working on two-story buildings, failing to cover flooring-joists. I have found it necessary to condemn twelve batten ladders as unfit for use. I consider this class of ladder to be a continual source of danger to workmen, and would respectfully suggest- that in any future amendment to the Act a clause be inserted prohibiting their use on buildings. The use of these ladders was the cause of an accident that took place during the year, which resulted in two painters sustaining serious injuries, necessitating their removal to the hospital. One prosecution, for failing to give notice of accident, was taken, conviction obtained, and tine ordered. Greymouth. Mr. H. J. Torbit reports : — The building trade has been very quiet throughout the whole of the district, only four buildings of two stories high having been constructed. Ten notices of intention to erect scaffolding exceeding 16 ft. high have been received. These structures, together with all other scaffolding of whatever height, have been inspected. In one instance a large scaffold erected for the purpose of repairs to a two-storied wooden hotel had to be entirely condemned, and it was necessary to order the cessation of work thereon until properly constructed. No accident in connection with building operations was reported during the period. Christchurch. Mr. E. J. G. Stringer reports: — The year has been a very busy one in the building trade. Several new buildings have been erected and a number is in the course of erection at the present time. 490 notices of intention to erect scaffolding above the height of 16 ft. were received from builders. In all cases visits of inspection were made during the process of erection. In seventy-one cases it was necessary to draw attention to defects in the material used for scaffolding, and ten scaffoldings were wholly condemned as being unfit for men to work upon. Care was taken to see that all gear used on buildings for hoisting material, girders, &c, was in good repair. No report of accident has been received during the year, which clearly indicates that care has been taken by employers to provide the necessary safeguards for their workers. It was found necessary to take proceedings against four employers for failing to send written notice of their intention to erect scaffolding above the height of 10 ft., and a penalty was imposed in each case. Timaru. Mr. G. H. Lightfoot reports : — The building trade has shown a considerable falling-off during this year, and only thirty notices of intention to erect scaffolding were received. There have been four accidents reported, none of which was of a serious nature. Dunedin. Mr. F. Barton reports: — The year under review has been a very quiet one so far as the building trade is concerned, consequently the scaffoldings erected have not been so numerous or extensive as has been the case in former years. The number of notices of intention to erect scaffolding was 104, but as most of the structures were of a very temporary nature, as a rule one visit of inspection sufficed. A total of 617 visits to 236 buildings in the course of erection was made. There have been rive accidents on buildings in the course of erection, but not one of them was of a serious nature, and only one occurred in connection with scaffolding. Invercargill. Mr. J. Brown reports : — During the year twenty-one notices of intention to erect scaffolding were received; this is a considerable falling-off in the number received during the previous year. I have paid 157 visits of inspection during the year, and in most cases the scaffolding has been satisfactory. The class of scaffolding erected on suburban jobs is much superior to that in use a few years back, and in very few cases has any alteration been necessary. There has been no occasion to bring any prosecutions against builders.