PROTECTING MINERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 115, 25 February 1937, Page 5

PROTECTING MINERS.

LESSONS FROM A DISASTER. DISCUSSION IN THE COMMONS. (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, February 23. The House of Commons to-day discussed the Gresford colliery disaster. Both the opening Opposition speaker, Mr D. Grenfell, and tho Secretary for Mines t (Captain iH). Crookshank), who followed him, described the accident as one of the most appalling in the postwar mines record.

The debate arose out of the report of the inquiry into .the explosion, and Mr Grenfell, who paid a tribute to the ability and patience of the Chief Inspector of Mines (Sir Henry Walker), who presided over the Commission, said that a study of the report impelled serious disquiet about the whole machinery for supervision and: inspection which Parliament had been building up for nearly a century. He felt that the inspection had proved ineffective at Gresford, He hoped that the House would make it unmistakably clear that it required the strictest administration of the law and regulations, and that if new legislation were necessary, it would pass it to protect the men who contributed to the dealth of the country and the comfort of its people by coal-getting.

The Secretary for Mines commented on the difficulties in the way of arriving at firm conclusions about the accident owing to the fact that it had been impossible to enter the affected area, which was sealed up*, and that a great deal of the evidence presented to the Commission was contradictory.

There were three questions, said Captain Crookshank—(l) The observance of the law by those engaged in the industry the owners, officials, and workers —and on that he would say no more than that the Attorney-General (Sir Donald Somervell) had the whole question of proceedings under consideration. (2) The administration of the existing law. In this connection, Captain Crookshank ‘ referred to the criticism of the inspectors concerned, which had been made at the inquiry and elsewhere. He said that no disciplinary action would be taken.

(3) The amendment of the existing law and regulations. It might be that greater powers should be given to inspectors, pr that the organisation of, inspection required modification, but oil those points they would await the report of the Royal Commission on Safety in Mines, of which Mr Grenfell himself was a member.

“Let us learn what we can,” declared the Minister, in conclusion, “from the catastrophe, and try to increase our knowledge and strengthen the administration. It is the best and only comsolution that we can offer to the bereaved.”—British Official Wireless.