ACCIDENTS IN COAL MINES.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 143, 18 June 1910, Page 5

ACCIDENTS IN COAL MINES.

TRAINED RESCUE CORPS ATTACHED TO EACH PIT. LONDON, June 17. In the House of Commons last evening Mr. Enoch Edwards (Labour member for Ilanley, and president of the Miners' Federation of Great Britain) initiated a debate on accidents in coal mines, and several other Labour members, who arc colliers, made telling contributions to the discussion. Mr. Winston Churchill (Home Secretary) paid a tribute to the miners who had made such gallant efforts to rescue the victims in the Whitehaven pit. He stated that the sealing of the intake did not prevent escape, as a return channel had been left open for possible survivors. Experts were confident that none were alive when the intake was closed. The Home Office was, he said, considering schemes, including the increase of inspectors. Every mine ought to have a supply of breathing helmets, and men trained in their use, and also a trained rescue corps. It was intended to introduce a short bill dealing with the subject immediately. Mr. Churchill's announcement evoked general cheers, and Mr. Keir Hardie declared that the Home Secretary's speech -would bring new hope to miners. RATIO OP ACCIDENTS. NO IMPROVEMENT FOR TEW YEARS. (Received 5.20 a.m.) LONDON, June 17. In the House of Commons in the course of his statement regarding colliery accidents, Mr. Churchill showed that the proportion of fatal accidents during the years 1850 to 1555 was five per thousand. From 1896 to 1000 the proportion was one and a-half per thousand, but the ratio has not improved since 1900.