HUNILY DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2271, 3 October 1914, Page 8

HUNILY DISASTER

THE COMMISSION'S INQUIRY

EXPERT EVIDENCE

MINES ACT "WEAK AND

OBSOLETE"

(By Telesrapb-Proas Association.)

. .Auckland, October 2. mo Gommission set up to inquire into the recent disaster at Ralph's Mine, Huntly, by which 43 men lost their lives, commenced to take evidence at the Courthouse, Huntly, this morning. Evidence was .given by Professor ■Dixon, the British explosion expert, on the same lines as at the inquest. He stated that he now considered the miiif dangerous. Owing to the explosive na turo of coal dust, men had evidentrj been working for a long time in this mine under dangerous conditions. M r, „ Bo J' d R enfl ie (Mines Inspector) said that in August ho suggested to the Under-Secretary'of Minos that a prosecution bo taken in connection with an accident tea miner who «;as burned in a slight explosion of gas. There •were several such explosions. His proposal to prosecute was supported by Mr. Frank Reed, inspecting engineer of mines, who said that a prosecution would do good even if a conviction could not be obtained under the obsoleto and weak ; Cbal Mines Act, for it'would show the pujjlic that the Alines Department was alive to the danger and would cause the management to give greater attention to the safety of the mine. In fu ture,. should an explosion occur, tin fact of the prosecution would bo appreciated by the public. The Department however, took no action owing to the difficulty in obtaining a conviction. Mr Bennie added that in his letter to the Under-Secretary of Mines he also" mentioned that he could get no assistance in the. work of inspection from the Min ers' Union, or their check inspectors, who wero a creation of the Mining Company's unions. Pressed to explain this statement; witness said that the men who formed-the r.ew union after the strike were generally believed to be ' agents of the company. The Commission adjourned till tomorrow. "■',

MAYOR'S RELIEF FUND. ■; £ a. d. Amount previously acknowledged : .. 116 16 6 Bible-in-State-Schools League ; > \ (per Canon Garland).... 10 10 0 E. H. and C. A. Allen ..-. 10 0 Gate attendmtSj Basin Reserve, football match, September 26, 1914 ;.;. . 1 12 0 :' ' ' ,£129 18 6. TRADES' HALL RELIEF FUND. The joint, secretaries of the Huntly Belief Fund (Messrs. L. M. A. Roarden and J. Read) , acknowledge receipt of the following amounts i — : : £ »• a. Previously, acknowledged ... 554 1 5 Collection (Mrs. Wicks). ... 12 6 ■Blackball Miners 50 0 0 D. J. Aldersley (Lower .. Hutt) ~..: 10 0 Miss M. r Aldersley (Lower Hutt) ■'"■ 10 0 A. M. Samuel (Lower Hutt) 3- 3 0 S. Gilmer 5 50 Total to date ....:.,.:..;. .615 1111 : The joint secretaries 'of the Trades Hall Fund, Messrs. L. M.. Rearden and J. Read, write:—"We have to advise you that we' have appointed a responsible committee in Huntly, consisting of the Rev. M. J. Evans, Rev.- Father Edge, and Messrs. Knapper and Melliugs, and can assure you that all cases of distress will be promptly and fairly dealt with." ".....■ "THE DOMINION" RELIEFFUND^ A. fund for the relief of sufferers in the Huntly disaster Is now open at The Dominion office. Wo have to acknowledge the following donations:— ' . £ s.'d. Previously acknowledged ... 26 11 6 .The'Huntly Relief Fund at Napier now amounte to £76 14s. Id. the latest donation being £20 from Mr. Sydney Johnston.—Special correspondent.

Tho Pahiatua Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union lias opened o fund to assist .the distressed in tho

Huntly disaster. The. president, Mr. A. Ross, was very successful with the subscription list on last; sale . day in Pahiatua.