OFFICIAL INQUIRY.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, 2 October 1914, Page 3

OFFICIAL INQUIRY.

n j, 1. ■t WORK OF COMMISSION, y 1* The commission set up by the 1 r Government to inquire into the disaster at Ralph’s mine, Huntly, d on September 12th , was form- - ally opened here on Thursday, e The commissioners were Messrs. F. J. Burgess, chairman, J. C. 3 Brown andjJ. Dowgray. Mr. C. - Tunics represented the com--3 pany, Mr W. J. Napier, the - Ralph Trustees, owners of , the mine, Mr P, Macassoy the Mines Department, Mr G. 1 M. Newton the Taupiri Coalmine Worker’s Union and l Mr T. M". Wilford, M.P., and Mr i Gould appeared for the New Zealand miners, inclu '’'ions affiliated with the F Labour and the- Uniteu . Party, and also for several of in., relatives of the deceased miners. The secretary of the commission, Mr J*. T. Watkins of the head office of the Mines Department, read the order of reference, which was as follows: — To ascertain in what part or parts of the mine the accident occurred and the nature of the same. 2. To ascertain how the accident was. caused. 3. To ascertain what lights were used in the different parts of tlie mine at tlie time of the accident. 4. To ascertain to what extent the provisions of the Coalmines Act, 1908, and the general rules, spfecial rules and additional rules, made in accordance with the provisions of that Act were complied with in the mine, but more .especially as regards (a) ventilation and lighting; (b) the examination of the mine ; (c) the character of the explosives; (d) the withdrawal of workmen in case of danger ; (e) the means of escape in case of accident. 5. To ascertain the nature and character of the working and general management of the mine, and whether the mine was well and safely managed. 6. To determine the efficiency of the inspection of the mine by (a) the inspector of mines for the district; (b) the workmen’s inspectors. 7. To make suggestions for the prevention, as far as possible, of similar accidents, and for the safe working of this and other mines in the future. 8. To ascertain if the provisions of the existing- laws are sufficient to give the inspector of mines full authority to order the < use of safety lamps and other t appliances, if in his opinion such 1 appliances are necessary. r 9. And generally to make in- 1 into any matter or thing t oul of c