SAFETY OF THE MINE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIX, Issue 76, 28 March 1908, Page 8

SAFETY OF THE MINE.

INSPECTOR TENNENT'S REPORT. (By TelegrapE.—Own Correspondent.) WELLfiJGTOtf, this day. Questioned by a "Star" representative with regard to the severe criticism of the West Coast mines' inspector, Mr. Tennent, by Mr. Hickey, the. Minister for Mines said there were no mines in the world better than those in the Dominion for healthy working conditions of all concerned. As an instance of the care taken by the Mines Departmen ~ he mentioned that in a recent case at Auckland, in which proceedings were taken against mine owners on the ground that there were insufficient precautions against men being imprisoned in a mine through accident, evidence was given that the mine complained of by the Department was one of the safest in New Zealand. Inspector Tennent was one of the most experienced miners on the West Coast, and his opinion with regard to the Blackball mine was cniite different from that of Mr. Hickey. Mr. McGowan produced a report from the mines' inspector, describing the conGltion of the colliery at Blackball when he visited it a fortnight before the labour trouble commenced. This indicated that he went around the workings with Mr. Hall, inspector on behalf of the miners. The general ventilation was found to be highly efficient. It was induced by a Cappell Jan calculated to maintain a safe working capacity of 100,000 feet per minute.