Shearers' Accommodation Act Amendment Act 1957 (WA)

195'7.] Shearers' Accommodation. [No. 54.

SHEARERS' ACCOMMODATION.

6° Elizabeth II., No. LIV.

No. 54 of 1957.

AN ACT to amend the Shearers' Accommodation

Act, 1912-1944.

[Assented to 6th December, 1957.]

BE it enacted by the Queen's Most ExcellentMajesty, by and with the advice and consent

of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Shearers'	Short title
and citation.

Accommodation Act Amendment Act, 1957.

(2) In this Act the Shearers' Accommodation Act,

1912-1944,

Act No. 43 of 1912 as amended by Act No. 47 of

1944,

is referred to as the principal Act.

No. 54.] Shearers' Accommodation. [1957.

(3) The principal Act as amended by this Act may be cited as the Shearers' Accommodation Act, 1912-1957.

Commence-

This Act shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation but not before the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred and fifty- eight.

ment. 2.

S. 2

Section two of the principal Act is amended by substituting for the word, "eight" in line four, the word, "five" and by adding after the word, "nor" in line seven, the passage, "to shearers who are accommodated in the residence of the employer on the holding on which the shearing shed is situate; nor".

amended. 3.

8.6

amended. 4. Subsection (2) of section six of the principal

Act is amended

(a) by adding after the word, "fulfilled" in line three, the following paragraph-

(ai) Buildings for the accommodation of shearers shall be provided with proper and sufficient drainage for carrying from the buildings all surface, rain, and waste, water. ;

(b)	by adding before the word, "pig-sty" in line two, and again in line seven, of paragraph (i), the passage, "cow-shed,";
(c)	by adding after the word, "compartment" in line seven of paragraph (ii), the passage, ", but where the erection of such a building is commenced after the coming into opera- tion of the Shearers' Accommodation Act Amendment Act, 1957, it shall be divided into compartments to accommodate not more than two shearers in each compart- ment";

1957.] Shearers' Accommodation. [No. 54.

(d)

by adding after the word, "shearers" being the last word in paragraph (ii), the passage, ", but where the erection of any building to accommodate cooks and their assistants is commenced after the coming into operation of the Shearers' Accommodation Act Amendment Act, 1957, separate sleeping accommodation shall be provided for cooks in a building which is separate from and not adjoining a building used for sleeping accommodation for other shearers, and which complies in all other respects with the conditions prescribed by paragraphs (ai) and (i) of this subsection";

(e)

by substituting for the words, "six inches" in line five of paragraph (iii), the words, "three inches";

(0 by substituting for the passage, ", with or fibre suitable to fill the same" in lines eight and nine of paragraph (iii), the passage, "which shall when manufactured be not less than six feet and three inches long, not less than two feet and six inches wide, and not less than four inches deep, and which shall have boxed sides, and which shall be properly filled with kapok, flock, slumber w o o 1, or a mixture of such materials, but any mattress purchased by the employer for the use of shearers before the coming into operation of the Shearers' Accommodation Act Amendment Act, 1957, shall be deemed to comply with the require- ments of this subsection if it is properly filled with kapok, flock, slumber wool, or a mixture of such materials, unless an inspector declares to the contrary";

sufficient clean and dry hay, straw, kapok

(g)

last word in paragraph (iv), the passage, "but where the erection of such a building is commenced after the coming into opera-

by adding after the word, "floor" being the

No. 54.] Shearers' Accommodation. [1957.

tion of the Shearers' Accommodation Act Amendment Act, 1957, not less than four hundred and eighty cubic feet of air space shall be allowed to each person sleeping in the building, and in calculating the last- mentioned air space no allowance shall be made in any respect of air space at a greater height than eleven feet from the floor";

(h) by adding after the word, "other" being the last word in paragraph (vi), the passage, ", and a partition shall be erected so as to divide the portion of the room used for cooking from the portion used for serving of meals";

(i)   by adding before paragraph (vii), the fol- lowing paragraph

(via) Where shearers are conducting shear- operations during any part of a period commencing on the first day of May in any year and ending on the thirty- first day of the next following August, suitable and adequate warmth shall be provided in the dining quarters provided for them, whether in a fire place or by other suitable alternative warming facilities in the dining quarters;

(j)

by substituting for paragraph (vii), the (vii) Sufficient and proper earth closets in

either the cesspit, pan, or water, system shall be provided. Every closet other than a septic system closet shall be

(a) situated in a position not less than twenty-five yards from any building providing accom- modation, and not less than one hundred yards from the water supply;

1957.] Shearers' Accommodation. [No. 54.

(b)	made fly-proof, with all seats provided with lids; and
(c)	in the case of a cesspit—not less than eight feet in depth;

(k) by adding after the word, "receptacles" in line two of paragraph (xii), the words, "with close fitting lids";

(1) by substituting for the words, "periodically or whenever filled" in lines five and six of paragraph (xii), the words, "at least once in every twenty-four hours";

(m)	by adding after the word, "meals" being the last word in paragraph (xii), the pas- sage, ", and if the refuse is buried it shall be buried to such depth as to be completely covered by a depth of soil of not less than three feet";
(n)	by substituting for paragraph (xiii) the following paragraph-
(xiii) The following facilities for bathing and laundering shall be provided:—

(a)	Showers: One shower in a separate cubicle shall be pro- vided for every six shearers, any number in excess of six or a multiple of six but not being a complete multiple of six to be regarded as six.
(b)	Washbasins: One washbasin shall be provided for every four shearers, any number in excess of four or a multiple of four but not being a complete mul- tiple of four to be regarded as four.

No. 54.] Shearers' Accommodation. [1957.

(c)	Washtubs: One laundry wash- tub shall be provided for every three shearers, any number in excess of three or a multiple of three but not being a complete multiple of three to be regarded as three.
(d)	Water: An adequate supply of water shall be provided for each shower and washbasin, and for laundering purposes. One suitable utensil of a capacity of not less than twenty gallons for use for boil- ing clothing shall be provided for every ten shearers, any number in excess of ten or a multiple of ten but not being a complete multiple of ten to be regarded as ten;

(o) by adding after the word, "meat" in line five of paragraph (xiv), the passage, "but where more than ten shearers are engaged in shearing operations there shall be provided for the storage of fresh meat, a meat house the dimensions of which shall be not less than six feet in width, six feet in depth, and nine feet in height";

(P) by adding before the words, "Each dining room" in line eight of paragraph (xiv), the passage, "For the storage of provisions, there shall be provided in or adjacent to the kitchen a storeroom which shall be provided with light and ventilation to the satisfaction of the inspecting authority, which shall be filled with strongly built timber shelving surrounding the internal walls of the store- room, and for which an efficient locking device and key shall be supplied. Where more than ten shearers are engaged in shearing operations during any part of a period commencing on the first day of

1957.] Shearers' Accommodation. [No. 54.

October in any year and ending on the thirtieth day of the next following April, there shall be provided for the preservation of foodstuffs which are intended for food for the shearers, refrigerators or cool rooms which are approved by the inspecting authority, and which shall provide refriger- ated space of not less than seven cubic feet if the number of shearers to be served with meals is not less than eleven and not more than twenty; or of not less than twelve cubic feet where that number exceeds twenty. It shall be the duty of the cook to take charge of the refrigerator or cool room and to attend to the control of its tempera- ture, defrosting, and functioning of the cooling unit."

5. Section seven of the principal Act is amended aije,ided.

by adding after the word, "contained" in line one, the passage, ", where through fire, storm, flood, or other catastrophe, the buildings referred to therein have been destroyed or rendered useless, or where because of drought or flood conditions shearing can- not be carried out at the shearing shed which. otherwise would be used, then and in those cases only".