COAL MINE SAFETY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 15, 18 January 1930, Page 10

COAL MINE SAFETY.

STRENGTHENING THE LAW.) THE LINTON DISASTER. PROSECUTIONS. PEXDIiivG. • (By Telegraph.; —Special to. " Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. As a sequel to the ; Royal Commission's report on the, Linton, colliery disaster in Southland ■ action is being taken against certain colliery officials and workmen for alleged breaches of the Mining Act in respect to safety precautions. The Minister of Mines, The Hon. W. A. Veitch, informs your, correspondent that in the light of recent colliery J disasters in the Dominion, he considers that penalties for carrying, matches into dangerous mines do not appear to be sufficiently severe. "Men who obey the provisions of the law," remarked the Minister, "are liable to become the vie-,; tims of those who disobey it, and if legislation is necessary to strengthen the law I will take the necessary steps next session. The Royal Commission pointed to the necessity of not only strictly examining men prior to entering mines, hut of taking power to examine any miners while in the workings. The facts disclosed in the Linton report show that, while all the more important safety recommendations had been the subject of attention by the Mines Department's inspectors, - there had been considerable laxity; in carrying on mining operations at Linton coliery, and I have requested the Undersecretary of Mines to. again emphasise the views expressed by me .periodically •since taking my appointment that safety in the working of coal mines must be the' first consideration. Attention has been called to the possibility that the present law regarding the proportion of stone dust in mines as a safety precaution against the spread of explosions is: not sufficiently • comprehensive, and, while again instructing the inspection stalf that the existing law nnist be rigidly enforced, I am taking the opinion of my experts regarding the necessity for amending existing regulation on this matter. When the Mines' Department i has completed a summary of the-latest

information regarding rescue brigades

and apparatus in other parts of the world,. I will-be in a position to decide whether it,will be advisable to call a conference of coal mine owners' and workers' representatives to consider this question."