WHITEHAVEN MINE DISASTER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 53, 11 June 1910, Page 5

WHITEHAVEN MINE DISASTER

HOME SECRETARY MEETS MINERS ASSOCIATION. I | By Telegraph—Press Association. London, June D. Mr. Winston Churchill discussed with representatives of th.e Miners' Association prospective legislation m the direction of establishing a rescue station at every considerable mine, with provisions and rescue apparatus. The representatives referred to Mr. Keir Hardie's speech about the Whitehaven disaster. Mr. Churchill said that die statements in Mr. Keir Hardie's story weTe cruel and disgraceful, and he greatly regretted that a member of the House' of Commons had uttered such cruel aspersions. KIER HARDIE'S ACCUSATION o. Received June 10, 10.10 ,p.m. London, June 10. Mr. Keir Hardie adheres to his statement that in all probability when it was decided to wall ,up the Whitehaven mine, the miners' were still alive. What' his speech more particularly emphasised was that there would have been no disaster had the spirit of the Mines Regu-lation-Act been observed. The fire occurred at the "bottle neck," which was the only means of egress. He adds that beyond the neck, where the workings! branch off in five main levels, it would' have been easy to construct a safety' road thence to the jpit shaft. This especi i ally, lie holds, is what requires investi-i gation. v