Is Gold Worth Suffering Involved ?

Chronicle (Levin), 21 August 1948, Page 4

Is Gold Worth Suffering Involved ?

WELLINGTON, August 20. "If the qgartz mines eould be elosed (fown withoyt iajury to the* people of Waihi "arid Waiuta/ we would be "only too gla/L to do so, ' ' said the Minister of Mines (Hon. A. Mch.agan) in the House - of " Representatives this afternoon when rep lying to tlie second reading debate on the Mining Amendment Ilill. Ea,riier in the debate several members referred to the deaths of miners in, various types of mines from phthisis, and the question was raised as to .whether tlie gold won was worth the human sufl'ering iiivolved. No co.mrn;oditjy nras vyoyth the loss of men's li-yes. said the Minister, adding that in oue year the accidenf r.ate- at Waihi was 1-00 per ceht. Tliere" wfere more aceidents Jhan miners. r L1 lre "s'e v e q-h o ur ■ woxking dav provision in the Bill would no-t cause tiie nhnias to,- elose -down, The eompauies ' "would elose dowu when it suited .thehiseltes— when tlve minen eeaaed ta nlake pxolits. He eould, fiud work for m'ihers in eoal mines, -b.ut the qAesti,on was not as simple as all that because the miners had their homes at Waihi ard Waiuta. ' 'The Bill was read a seeond time and referred -to the, (ioldfields and- AHnes Committee. The Apprentiees Bill was also given a second reading. during the afternoon and was referred to the Labour Bills Committee. The. House rose for the weekeud reeess at -1.5?. until 7.30 on " Tuesday when the Leader of the Opposi.ion will op«m Ihe finanr-ial debate..