HUNTLY DISASTER

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20920, 27 September 1939, Page 9

HUNTLY DISASTER

VALOUR OF MEN

COMMENT IN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY (By Telegraph.—Special to Times) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Deep regret at the tragedy at the Glen Afton mine last Sunday and sympathy with the relatives of the victims of the disaster was expressed in a resolution carried without dissent in the House of Representatives this afternoon. Th-3 resolution, which was moved by the acting-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, and seconded by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. A. , Hamilton, was a follows: I “ That this House deeply deplores the tragic loss of life caused by the mining disaster at Glen Afton on September 24 and expresses its sincere sympathy with the bereaved widows and children in their great sorrow. “ I move this resolution believing that this House is voicing th_ opinion of the people of the whole Dominion in expressing its deep regret and extending its sincere sympathy,” Mr Fraser said. He referred briefly to the other mine disasters in the hisj tory of New Zealand and made spe- : cial mention of the valour of the men who attempted to rescue the victims at Glen Alton. When the question was put by the Speaker members rose and stood in silence. HEROIC ACTION MINER ASSISTS MATE BODIES RECOVERED TOGETHER (Times Special Reporter) GLEN AFTON, Tuesday j From the moment the Glen Alton mine tragedy occurred until the last body was recovered this afternoon there were many heroic incidents, but the persons concerned took them as part and parcel of their duty and none would say anything about the hignlights. However, alter the recovery of the last three bodies mute evidence of one heroic action was seen by the rescuers, j Mr R. Turley, one of the elecI tricians who went down with the j first party of men, was found witn his mate's head on his lap, and there j were traces where he had dragged j him over a chain in an attempt to ! rescue him. His mate, Mr W. Bell, was also an electrician, who went down with Mr Turley, and apparently he was the first to feel the effects of the gas. Mr Turley, stated the rescuers who found the body, must have immediately attempted to ; pull him clear and in doing so j sacrificed his own life. • Mr Turley was very well known j in Hamilton, being an old boy of the i Hamilton High School and a Rugby j three-quarter for Technical Old Boys some years ago. 1 All the victims were covered by ; workers’ compensation insurance. Glen Afton Collieries have decided to pay all funeral expenses and pay to the widows the full wages for three months. The Mayor of Auckland’s fund for the dependants has now reached £155 10s, while the directors of Dominion Breweries, Limited, have | decided to forward cheques of £2O to each of the widows to meet their immediate needs.