THE HUNTLY MINES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 122, 9 February 1918, Page 8

THE HUNTLY MINES

TROUBLE STILL UNSETTLED ABOUT 300 MEN IDLE By Telegraph.—Presß Association. Auckland, February 8. Work at the Extended Mine, Huntly, has not yet been resumed, and indications are that the trouble will not be settled very easily. About three hundred men aro idle, representing a loss in production of nearly nine hundred tons daily. To-day an inspection of tho mine was made by Mr. Bennie, the local Government Inspector, tho manager of the mines, and the men's • check inspectors. Mr. Bennie's report is not available, but the men apparently anticipate that he will say tho mine is safe, as one of the check inspectors remarked : "We disagree with Mr Bennie and we still think there is danger through the presence of fire and gas. Union-officers state that until tho check inspectors are satisfied that tho -necessary" precautious have been carried out work will not be resumed. Early in December a creep started m a section of the mine which was closed and the drive filled tin. The men say that it is in this section they think fire and gas exist. The flooding of this section commenced over two weeks ago, before there was any evidence of fire fumes, and the men contend that as the water rises the gas may be forced round tho outer passages and eventually reach the main workings. The management state that there is no fire, only the heating common to all mines, and thnt the. gas apparent on Monday has been cleared out by ventilation. The flooding of a section was done not on -account of suspected danger, but to do away with tho necessity of daily inspection. The check inspectors of tits Huntly Union say that the position as far as tho check inspectors are concerned is thaton January 27 the inspectors were informed there Vero indications of a firo in the mine. The position seemed unsatisfactory, and they immediately visited the place, and camo in contact with what they believed to be definite lire fumes and a large body of _ explosive gas mixtur'o in close proximity to one another. The check inspectors immediately went for the Government inspector, and were informed that he was away on business. Under the circumstances they reported to the union executive, who, after careful deliberation of the report, together with the check inspector's report, decided to interview the management and request them to withdraw,the men immediately. This the management refused to do on the ground that tho reports of fire were unfounded. The committee then informed the management that they would take the responsibility of the men's withdrawal. '

Union officials take.up the attitude that if they committed a breach of the Act in calling a cessation of work instead of awaiting the inspector's report the condition of the mine left them no alternative. The check inspectors, on January 29, observed the conipany making preparations for extinguishing a fire in the mine;> and immediately made inspection, but owing to a creep were unable to ascertain if a (ire had broken out beyond it. They met strong fumes of fire in the vicinity, but having no actual evidence, they had to report everything satisfactory. Another inspection on February 1 led to the same Teport, but they stated they still had suspicions that fire-damp w;as present. Last Monday the check inspectors paid four visits to the mine, and on the fourth reported that they had discovered a large body of inflammable gas in proximity to the supposed fire. The manager was informed and stopped work in that section. The Government inspector was at Whangarei. Work was continued on Tuesday and Wednesday, although a number, of the miners, fearing danger, were absent. A meeting was held yesterday, when 250. were present and endorsed the executive's aotion in ordering a cessation. ... -l The. general manager, interviewed, said the mine was as safe as ever. No mine in New Zealand was safer. Gas became 'a danger only when the venti ; lation was not sufficient. The files ot the check inspector's reports bore out the contention that there was not the slightest danger. If they had suspicions these should have been mentioned.