MINE DISASTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1937, Page 7

MINE DISASTER.

GRESFORD HORROR.

House of Commons Discussion

On Report.

LAXITY OP INSPECTION. British Official Wireless. (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, February 23. The report of the inquiry into the Gresford Colliery disaster, which occurred in 1934 and cost over 260 lives, was discussed in the House of Commons. Both the opening Opposition speaker, Mr. David Grenfell (Lab., Glamorgan) and Captain Crookshank (Con., Gainsborough), who followed him, described the accident as one of the most appalling since the war. 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 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 inspection had proved ineffective at Gresford and he hoped 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 men who contributed to the wealth of the country and the comfort of its people by coal-getting. Difficulty With Evidence. The Secretary for Mines, Captain Crookshank, commented on the difficul- 1 ties in the way or 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 con- j tradictory. i There were three questions:—(l)l Observance of the law by those engaged in the industry—owners, officials and workers—and on that he would say no more than that the Attorney-General had the whole question of ffroceedings under consideration. (2) Administration of the existing law, and in this connection Captain Crookshank referred to criticism of the inspectors concerned, which had been made at the inquiry and elsewhere. He stated that no disciplinary action would be taken. (3) Amendment of the existing law and regulations. It might be that greater powers should be given to inspectors, or that the organisation of inspection required modification, but on 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 administration. That is the best and only consolation we can offer to the bereaved."