‘Something Alarming’ Might Have Happened

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31383, 31 May 1967, Page 3

‘Something Alarming’ Might Have Happened

(From Our Own Reporter)

GREYMOUTH, May 30. The explosion area in the Strongman mine on January 19 could have been much larger than the area of Green’s No. 2 section, and it was possible that something alarming took place just before the explosion, the president of the Grey Valley Deputies’ and Underviewers’ Union (Mr R. Scott) told the Commission of Inquiry today.

Green’s No. 1 section had been worked previously above No. 2. The thickness of the coal in Green’s No. 1 was of a maximum of 14ft and the displacement between the two sections was from nought to 90 feet.

chains away from their working face. Coughlan and Newcombe had also travelled some distance, as had most of the men who would have been expected to be in or around their working places. Little Travel

than 18ft high and that hydro mining be introduced to reduce dust.

A further recommendation was for improved surveys where one section overlay another.

It would have been extremely doubtful that these men could have travelled any distance after or during the explosion, said witness. The men themselves would have been in a state of considerable shock. Conditions in the section would be chaotic with falling roof coal and timbers. This would have made it almost impossible to travel. The men who had travelled the greatest distance were in the centre of the section — the most likely place to be affected if there had been a major fall. Mr Scott in a lengthy submission on behalf of his union also said that some aspects of the inquiry to date had given them concern especially with the interrogation of the dog-watch deputy on the night before the explosion—Mr Syme.

A more efficient telephone system (with consideration given to walkie-talkie) should be introduced and barometric and thermometer readings should be clearly, displayed on a blackboard. Other recommendation* were:

As the pillaring of Green’s No. 2 proceeded, there would be an ever increasing tendency for Green’s No. 1 to break through and a large scale disturbance to take place if a major fall did occur, said Mr Scott. The commission comprises Mr J. K. Patterson, S.M., chairman; and Messrs W. Elliott, S. R. Eyeington, A. V. PrendiviHe and T. H. McGhie, Counsel are Mr R. C. Savage, of Wellington, for the Mines Department; Mr D. J. Tucker, of Greymouth, for the New Zealand State Coal Mines; Mr R. A.? Young, of Christchurch, for the Grey Valley Deputies’ and Underviewers’ Union; and Mr W. D. Taylor, of Greymouth, for the United Mineworkers’ of New Zealand and relatives of the men who were killed.

Regular ventilation surveys, control at management level of auxiliary fans, printed forms for the recording of readings of pressures, and a closer contact between management and officials.

Mr Scott said he would like to see the pre-shift examination done by a deputy of the oncoming shift except where the shifts overlapped. Witness said that the shotfiring regulations required overhauling. The number of detonators issued daily to a deputy—4o—should be cut to 30.

“Many members of my union and others consider that the treatment meted out to Mr Syme was extremely harsh,” said Mr Scott. “Miners’ unions or deputies’ unions are alike in that all of them in the mass preach and advocate safety at all times but I fear that the standards of safety have slipped quite badly over the years,” Mr Scott said. “Mr Syme was more or less a victim of circumstances,” he said. Two-hour Task

The number of shots allowed a pair of miners had lately been reduced to 14. Before that there was no limit to the number of shots that a pair of miners could fire. The union believed that the Mines Act should put some restraint on the number of shots to be fired in any one place. Detonator Rule* Mr Patterson said that the chief inspector of mines (Mr R. Marshall) had said there was no reason after a nationwide survey to reduce the number of detonators permitted below 40, but witness said the Grey district had the most dangerous mines in the country and he would like to see a safety rule introduced locally. Dobson mine deputies were only permitted 30 detonators each a shift Witness said he had attended a meeting at which the inspector proposed to reduce the number of permitted shots and the manager had said thqt if this was done he would take it to a higher authority because it would impede the production. “What, therefore can a deputy do? The miners’* earnings too are based on the amount they produce," said Mr Scott.

It is the thirteenth day of public hearings. Mr Scott said that both these sections were on a fault plane; it was not inconceivable that associated with a fall from Green’s No. 1 section there could have been breaks following the fault plane to the surface, he said. The disposition of the bodies found after thfe explosion lend some weight to the theory that something alarming took place in Green’s No. 2 section on the morning of the explosion. Just before the actual explosion, Kinsey was found in the company of Watson, but O’Donnell, who was Watson’s mate, was found some distance away—much further than one would expect a miner to go to make “dummies” or to have a snack, witness submitted.

The work Mr Syme had to do and the distances he had to travel to examine all roadways made it an almost impossible task in the two hours required by law to do the examination, witness said. His union wanted the act and the regulations regarding shotflring to be adhered to and the 1941 and 1948 exemption agreements ended. It also wanted it regulated that no work-place be more

Van Looy and Foser Lynam were found some three

Charles Vernon Moore, a mine surveyor, called by Mr Tucker said he had been attached to the mine for a year before the January explosion. In November he measured the goaf behind O’DonneH's workplace and on December 12 be had brought the plans of the section up to date. To Mr Young he said he was never consulted on the path of the ventilation but prepared plans according to its direction and currents. He was a surveyor not a ventilation expert, witness said. He was told when a fault was being approached and he might be asked when it was likely to be met.

If water was found he had endeavoured to trace its source.

The mine geologist was the expert on terrain and he advised where boreholes should be driven.

Tour Reporter.—Tho New Zealand Press Association announced yesterday that Mr G. W. Jenkins has been chosen as its staff correspondent to report the Ail Black tour of the United Kingdom and Franco later this year. Mr Jenkins reported the 1960 AH Black tour of South Africa.