STRONGMAN MINE LANDSLIDE

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28434, 14 November 1957, Page 16

STRONGMAN MINE LANDSLIDE

Union To Make Full Investigation

(New Zealand Press Association) GREYMOUTH, November 13. The Runanga State Miners’ Union intends to make a full investigation of the slip which blocked the Strongman State mine on Monday night. The union will also ask for an inquiry, to ensure that there will be no similar occurrences in the future. This was stated by the president of the union, Mr R. H. Mitchell, who issued a statement on behalf of the union after a well-attended meeting of Strongman mine workers yesterday. The meeting had discussed the present position at the mine, said Mr Mitchell, and it was pointed out that “the livelihood of 450 mineworkers is in jeopardy. “At the present time, all shiftmen and some surface workers are working, but the vast majority of Strongman mineworkers are out of employment. The earliest that all men will be back at work will be next Monday. “For that to be achieved, "it will depend on the present good rate of progress tin clearing» being maintained and also on no further large falls of rock,” he said. Great concern had been expressed by the uniop at the circumstances which allowed the "disastrous” slip to come down “We consider that this disaster would have been avoided if there had been proper planning and supervision by the persons responsible for seeing that the mine property was not placed in jeopardy,” the statement said. Cliff Still Holding The manager of the Strongman mine 'Mr T. Brazil) still hopes that the mine will be reopened on Monday. He said tonight that there had been no further falls since the main landslide which blocked the mine. A few small overhanging sections of the cliff had been brought down to eliminate any danger to the workmen below. Steady progress had already been made by the bulldozer employed on the work. Clearance of the mouth of the tunnel was continuing, and Mr Brazil expected that if nothing untoward occurred the tunnel would be revealed after about three hours’ work tomorrow. There would be still about a chain and a half of rubble to clear from the tunnel itself. The face of the 200 ft cliff suspended over the mine entrance is still dangerous. A ceaseless fire in an abandoned coal seam in this face is weakening the bottom of the overhanging cliff. Mr Brazil said this was being closely watched. Future clearance work depended on the stability of this section.