STATE MINE TROUBLE.

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1927, Page 2

STATE MINE TROUBLE.

SAFETY FIkST PItITTCITLL’. (By Bewanui). Looking llirough the official tests ot the coal that is extracted from the various seams, ami coal measures on the West Coast, and other parts of New Zealand, 1 find that the two seams ’worked at the State Mines contain a larger percentage of inflammable gases, such as fixed calbon, carburetted hydiogen, ami other varieties of firedamp, it han any other seams of coal on the West Coast, except Wallsend, but that test was made nearly forty years ago, and if not kept under proper control by mechanical ventilation, and other methods that are well known in the industry, there is liable to be a disaster at any time. For the benefit of* the

“ Argus ’’ readers I will try to explain the cause of the present trouble at the State Mines, whereby 400 men have been idled. On Feb. ,10th at about 2

p.m. the fan stopped for about 55 minutes. The fan is the main source of ventilation, keeping the air on the

move, also removing the noxious gases, and when it is stopped, the gases begin to accumulate. As these mines are all being worked on the rise, the gases accumulate quicker, than if worked on the level, or on the dip. Therefore it requires a larger continuous volume of fresh air to keep the inflammable gases on the move the said gases being lighter than the air we breathe accumulate quicker in the higher working places. During the stoppage of the fan some of the mim working on the rise began to feel the effect of the gases on their lungs, and they began to think of the danger they were in, therefore they cleared out hurriedly, which was perfectly right. The writer’s contention is that the number of officials that were in the mine at the time—there were only three deputies —for this large area of ground that is being worked by more than 200 men, was insufficient to lead the men and advise them what to do, and as the three deputies could not be all over the mine at once, the men had no option but to get out as quickly as they could, as all the working places would have to be examined again for indications of gas by the deputies,’ in accordance with the Act. Whenever coal is worked which contains inflammable gas, the atmosphere in the vicinity of the workings, however efficient the ventilating arrangements may be, I will at one time or the other (and it I niav even lie said generally) coiitaiii

some small proportion of firedamp. Such a slight contamination of the atmosphere, even if it contains in its volume loss than 2 per cent of marsh gas, is quite sufficient to greatly enhance the dangers the miners have to contend with, especially if dust is in existence in a dry working place. It is impossible to account for so many of the accidents which have occurred in well managed mines, some of which have originated in the main airways except upon the supposition that gas hail suddenly invaded the workings from the adjacent strata. Sudden outbursts of large quantities of gas, accompanied ny violent disruptions of the floor, roof, or coal are fortunately rare, but smaller incursions of gas, accompanied by falls of roof, or even without any •displacement of ground, are c.ompalrafively frequent. It is recognised that

variations of atmospheric pressure exert an influence on the escape of gas ■which has accumulated in cavities ami possibly to a slight extent on that of gases emitted directly from the coal. Great doubt is being .entertained as to ‘the wisdom of placing reliance on the issue of meteorological warnings. These lean at best only convey very imperfect .'information which, moreover, may be 'sometimes dangerously misleading, and lit is the opinion of all practical men I that safety would be much more likely ko be insured by increasing co-operation

and vigilance on the part of the official and workmen in the mine than by any attention to such warnings. The wri ter is not in the habit of handing bou quets out to mine officials, but having worked with the Superintendent, Mr James, as an official at a certain mine on the Coast, T can honestly say that for practical mining in all its different branches viz. ventilation, opening, up. examining, gas testing, surveying, etc. his equal will be hard to find, and as a practical man I am sure if he had been iu the mine when the fan stopped, [thereby stopping the ventilation, he Lwould have ordered the men out of the mine, and would also have seen that the men were paid for the time, lost, as it was not the men’s fault, and that in the writer’s'opinion would have been the “Safety First” principle.