His Royal Highness the Duke of York, who is a well-known safety first enthusiast, was the principal speaker at the Industrial Safety Congress, held in London in March of this year.

“Many people,” observed His Royal Highness, “are inclined to think of the accident problem in terms of street traffic only. But I would like to remind you that the industrial casualty list is three times as heavy as that of the road: that the number of workers annually compensated is equal to the entire population of a great city such as Leeds.

“In compensation alone, over £6,000,000 are paid annually, but this figure is only a fraction of the total cost of accidents in industry. Pain and privation to the worker cannot be measured in pounds, shillings and pence. Prevention is better than compensation, and employer and employed have everything to gain and nothing to lose by organised safety work.

Summing up the industrial and human significance of safety work, the Duke said: “Safety work is worth while. Safety work must be taken seriously, and be given a definite place in managerial functions. Safety work is neither a fad nor a stunt. Safety work demands the closest co-operation between all, from the highest paid to the lowest. Safety work benefits alike employer and employed, and it is a duty which we owe mankind.”