THE HUNTLY DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2296, 2 November 1914, Page 4

THE HUNTLY DISASTER

Although it is a lucid and outspoken document, the report'of the Royal Commission 'on the Huntly mining accident stops in some particulars short of 'the point at which definite and final conclusions upon the questions at stake can be formulated or acted upon. The fact that the management of themine in which the disaster,occurred is face to face with a sorious indictment .by the Commission suggcats in itself that

suspension of judgment which is commonly accorded to all who are in any sense awaiting trial. That the whole of the circumstances surrounding the disaster 'which-"caused the deaths of forty-three nwn must be thoroughly investigated and reviewed goes without saying, but the presentation of, the.Commission's report does not by any. means mark the final stop in this direction. So far as the immediate causes of the disaster are concerned, the report appears to be quite conclusive. It states unreservedly that if tho provisions of the Coal Mines Act had bean" strictly adhered to (by the examination for gas, on the morning qf September 12, of the bord in which the' explosion occurred) the explosion- would have been averted. More than that, it is laid down that gas was allowed to accumulate in dangerous quantities in the old workings which formed an essential portion of the ventilation system of the mine, and that notwithstanding repeated ignitions and explosions in Ralph's and the adjoining Extended. Colliery, any one of which might have created a disaster, the manager continued to permit naked lights to be used, although under Special Rule 14 it was his duty to. direct the underviewer to see that locked safety lamp's only w.ero used and naked lights excluded whoresoever and whensoever danger from firedamp was apprehended. These and other comments and findings of the Commission, set out at length in the summary of the report which we published on Saturday, make it evident that there is a dofiuite case for. the management to answer.

The references made to the inspection of the mine by the officials of the Mines Department are less definite and leave some room for further investigation. It is stated that there was an error of judgment on the part of the District Inspector in not insisting upon the use of safety l lamps, and remissness in some other details, and regret is expressed that the Inspecting Engineor of the Mines Department and the Department itself did not take more vigorous steps to secure; the safety of the mine, but as a whole the findings relative to the' official" .inspection and. control are subject to reservations and modifications which demand further One fact which stands out clearly is thdt the state of the law relating" to coal raining is unsatisfactory and" calls for amendment in a number of important particulars. This being so, it is-satisfactory to know that most of the provisions considered necessary by the Commission to guard against a repetition of the terrible disaster of September "12 are anticipated by the Coal Mines Amendment Bill' now before Parliament. More light will doubtless be thrown upon the position in the debates upon this Bill and in the discussion '■- of the Commission's report. Passing referonces which have so far been made to the subject in the Hous? have contained hints of an intention on tho part of some Op position members to base upon the accident and subsequent inquiry, a political _ attack upon the Government, administration of the Mines Department. .The Hon W. Feaser has intimated that he is fiilly prepared to meet and answer any attack of this nature. It is regrettable that in a. matter "of this nature, possibly involving very serious consequences to the company "and to individuals, there should be a probability of the issues being obscured and prejudice unfairly creatod.by means of a bittaj .party disputation; So far, as the' facts disclosed are concerned, the Government had nothing to fear from any attack which may bo made on it, but it is a most unfortunate state of things when a tragedy, of tho nature of the Hiintly disaster- is made j.a weapon qf party politics, regardless of the injury and injustice that may be done in directions outside' the arena of politics altogether. ..'■