HUNTLY MINE DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2320, 30 November 1914, Page 6

HUNTLY MINE DISASTER

. ' • ■ OFFICERS' POWEKS.. STATEMENT BY A FORMER .'"'■;.. INSPECTOR, . . ißy Teleßmpli.-?xe!e jlesootetlon.) Wanganiil, Novembor 29.. In connection with the Huntly disaster, the. Prime Minister, in the course of his speech at Hawora "on Friday evening, read the following extracts from a letter received by him from a former inspector of mines in the Mines Department;— "On reviewing the debates in the House on the Coal Mines Bill, I notice Mr. Wilford,. the' member for Hutt, makes the assertion that Inspector Binnie pointed out that whan an inspector had closed a mine on the West Coast, he lost his job. These remarks I take to refer to myself.. To the best of my knowledge, I wae the only inspector to close a mine on the West Coast without 1 reference to the TJnder-Sccretary. The mines referred-to wore Billett'e, Reefton, also Job Lines, Buller Eoad. Both mines to the best of my knowledge remain closed. For these.actions I did not lose my job,-as asserted, but, before- proceeding to inform.you what led up to , my retirement from the posi-. tion of Inspector of Mines for the West Coast district, I may advise you /that iii the year 1910 I insisted oil the exclusive, use of safety lamps, throughout No. 1 State colliery, Greymouth. Previous to my. taking action, the system of lighting in this mine was that Known as "mixed light," and that in its worst and most dangerous form.' . "In these actions I took advantage of Section 58 of'the Coal Mines Act, , which section, in my opinion, gives any : inspector of mines who has confidence,in himself all the power that is necessary to close a mine or otherwise, -without consulting anyone. \ : "The Hon-. -H, M'Kenzie is certainly correct in his contention as far as our mining laws are concerned. He evidently has a thorough grasp of the situation. Further -legislation would no* have prevented the Huntly explosion.