FAILED TO REPORT DANGER IN COAL MINE

Chronicle (Levin), 31 July 1946, Page 2

FAILED TO REPORT DANGER IN COAL MINE

WHANGAREI, July 30. Tlie niagistrate yesterday iined Robert I'lythe Tsiit, an exaniiniug deputy at Kamo niine, £0 Is 011 a cliarge, to wliicli he luiil pleaded not guiltv, of j having failed to report that a source j of dangor existed I11 a working place! due lo inadequate tiinbering'." Jt was! not alleged tliat this breach had any- j thing to do with the rccent fatal acci- j dent wlien a miiier was killed by a fall | of rock. , yec'urity for appeal against ihe Mag- j islrate's decision was lixed at £10. This morning the niine was idled by six depulies and the underviewer refusing to go down the niine until the t inspector of Miues, .Mr. C. Hunter, ca-r-J ried out an inspectioii of the niine aud niakes a report. The miners also re-i fused lo go down tlie niine, lieiug notj allowed by Ihe rules to do so in Ihe absence of tlie deputies aud underviewer. ' Mr. Hunter lias been in the mine all' day and upon his report will depenuj wliether work in the niine is rcsumed. I The 'output of the Kamo niine has been 2U0 tons daily au,d Ihe loss of tliis ; will be a sorious blow To" ilidustry in the nortli if a speedy agroeiuent is notj reached. The main sufferers will be thej Portland Uenient Compaiiy and Rail-, wavs Hepartiiient, each of which re-' ceived 80 tons a day from the colliery. j Otlier concerns which received regular supplies from the mine are Moerewa Ereezing Works, Whangarei, Maunga-1 tapere, Whangaroa and Te Hana dairy. factories, aud a number of privatcly-j owncd esseutial inciustries. Lorne .120 mcn work at the collicry and all, with the execption of twro pumpmen and four blacksmiths, are idle. This means a daily loss of wages amounting approximately to £170.