DELIBERATE SABOTAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1939, Page 4

DELIBERATE SABOTAGE

MISCHIEF AT LIVERPOOL MINE. INTERFERENCE WITH HOT WATER SUPPLY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.! WELLINGTON, This Day. Cases of sabotage at the Liverpool State coal mine on the West Coast on two successive nights were mentioned by the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, in an interview last evening. Because of unauthorised interference with taps, the hot water supply was cut off at the bathhouse, and as a result of this action the mine was closed for two days this week. The matter has been reported to the police. Mr Webb said he had been immediately informed by the Superintendent of State Mines that deliberate sabotage had been done by some person or persons unknown by damaging the taps and thus preventing the heat going into the bathhouse. The result was that when the men arrived at the bathhouse to change for work their clothes would be wet and the bathhouse would resemble a freezing chamber.

On the second night, said Mr Webb, the enginedrivers inspected the pipes frequently, and on the last visit they made found everything in order. However, soon afterwards tampering was again done, the taps being found destroyed and the bathhouse cold. “I immediately sent a Labour Department inspector to investigate and also advised the mine manager to place the matter in the hands of the police,” said Mr Webb. “If the guilty person or persons are found they will be instantly dismissed from the mine if employed there and prosecution proceedings instigated. The Mines Union is co-operating with the authorities to put an end to this obnoxious practice.”