TAUPIRI MINE TROUBLE

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 124, 12 February 1918, Page 6

TAUPIRI MINE TROUBLE

ATTITUDE OF THE MEN. By TelegraDh-Prees Association. Auckland, February 11. ! Representatives of the Taupiri Coali Minos Company point out that the Gov-; eminent Inspector has now endorsed ] the opinion of its own offioials, who I are certificated men, and who, being! always at tho pit, are' just as well ac- i quainted with previous conditions in ' the closed area as are the miners cm-' ployed. "Imagine the cast upon the Government Inspector I and upon the officials if they an unsafe mine to be safe," said one director of the company. "Are the opinions of uncertiftcated men to be of more value than those of qualified experts? From humanitarian considerations, tbe company would not allow any work in the mine if there was any danger; and regarding the matter from, a purely selfish point of view it would not be worth tho risk." The report of Mr. Bennie, Government Mines Inspector, oii the Taupiri Extended Mine is that the mine is safe, but miners at a mass meeting yesterday decided not to resume work until; the enclosed area beyond the creep has' been flooded, to a point that will cover the spot where the fire is alleged to exist. Mr. Bennie, Government Inspector of Mines, in a report' pu the Taupiri Extended Mines, says' he failed to find any trace of fire damp or black damp. Three roads into the section were all' examined, and in two no danger was observable. In the third there is a fall of roof coal.and signs of beating, due to spontaneous combustion, but no indications that there is a fire there or in other places. Certainly no lire is to be seen. With a view to preventing a mine fire the section is being flooded, and portions are completely isolated, preventing the escape of imy gases accumulated there. At the time of inspection there was no apparent danger to the safety of the mine or to the workmen in resuming work in other parts of the mine. The union officials state that the check inspectors will visit the mine at 8 o'clock to-morrow. Their report will govern the situation so far' as the union fs concerned. The check inspectors and the Government inspector agree, that when No. 6 section is submerged all possibility of danger will be eliminated. It is expected that the section will be flooded to-morrow or Wednesday. Work, it is anticipated, should therefore be resumed on Wednesday or Thursday. Mr. Heed, Chief Inspector, will arrive on Thursday. '. ''' '