Miners Not Working Till Doctor Appointed

Chronicle (Levin), 31 May 1949, Page 6

Miners Not Working Till Doctor Appointed

GERYMOUTH, May 30. Tlie dispute in the Buller mining area over tlie non-availability of a doctor to serve the Ngakawau-Stockton area which- resulted in tlie Stockton mine ceasing work last Thursday and ali mines in the distyict being idle to-day, was satisf actorily settled at an all-da,\ conference wlien representatives of the Buller Hospital Board, miners' union.--and labour organisations met the diree tor of speeial areas of the Health De partment, Dr. Duncan Cook. It was em phasised by the miners' representatives that tlieir organisation would not be satisfied unless they were given a guarantbe of a continual medical service during the operation of the mines, owing to the hazardous nature of the employment and ever present risk of accident. Dr. Cook finally agreed to recommend to the Department the appointment ot an additional house surgeon at tlie Buller Hospital, Westport. _ This, it was thought, would solve all difficulties likely to arise as, in the present positioe out of the temporarv absenee of tlm medical officer in the mining areas, the extra house surgeon at the Buller Hos pital could be made available when ne cessary for relieving duties. During the conference the Mmister of Health, Miss Howard, was communi cated with by telephone and promised a sympathetic consideration to the pro posal of Dr. Cook. In the meantime Di J. G. Harkness is on loan from the Ai: Foree. Formerly medical officer at Millerton, he will relieve Dr J. C. Simpson in tlie Ngakawau area until Dr. Sin.ji son is again fit to resume duties or an other replacement is seeured for th. area. As the result of this arrangemenr Buller district mines will resume work on Wednesday.