Month’s Grace For Robens

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31440, 5 August 1967, Page 15

Month ’s Grace For Robens

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, August 4.

The head of Britain’s nationalised coal mines was summoned before his Government chief yesterday and given a month to produce an answer to the charge that his officials were to blame for the Aberfan disaster.

The meeting between Lord Robens, head of the National Coal Board, and the Power Minister, Mr Richard Marsh, came with the publication of an official report on the disaster.

The report said the board was to blame for the avalanche of coal waste that swept down on the Welsh village of Aberfan last October 21, killing 116 children and 28 adults. Lord Robens said after the meeting: “I have not offered any resignation this morning.”

“We shall study this report with great care over this week-end and we shall be meeting as a board on Monday to come to our final conclusions about it,” Lord Robens said. A Ministry statement afterwards said Lord Robens had been given until the end of August to reply to the criticisms and to say what steps he had taken to prevent any recurrence of the disaster.

A board spokesman said: “There will be no statement until the board has considered the report.” The Secretary of State for Wales, Mr Cledwyn Hughes, said recommendations requiring Government action were being urgently studied. Safety Checks

His statement added that any legislation required would be prepared without delay. Already, the Government had given assurances that it was checking on the safety of all coal waste tips. The president of the National Union of Mineworkers, Sir Sidney Ford, asked if he would be sorry if Lord Robens resigned, replied: "Most definitely. I think he has done a good job for the coal mining industry. “He is the fourth chairman of the National Coal Board, and there were tips in, the coal mining industry long before nationalisation.

“So how anyone can expect Lord Robens to have foreseen and obviated such a tragedy I don’t know,” he said. Relief In Aberfan In Aberfan yesterday, 400 copies of the report of the official inquiry went on sale at 15s, in the village. A wave of relief swept the village as it became clear that the report placed the blame at the feet of the National Coal Board.

British morning newspapers described the report as an indictment against the National Coal Board.

But they were split over whether or not Lord Robens should resign from his post Most editorials stressed that measures to deal with the danger of other slag tips threatening the tiny Welsh village should be put into action as soon as possible—whatever the cost The chairman of the National Coal Board, Lord Rob-

ens carries the principal responsibility for the disaster, the “Daily Telegraph” said in an editorial. “His only honourable course is therefore, resignation,” the newspaper said. Labour Feeling There was no doubt in British Government circles that many of Lord Roben's former colleagues in the Labour Party leadership had regretfully decided he should go, said the “Daily Sketch.”

The “Financial Times” said Lord Robens did not emerge from the report unscathed, and under the circumstances he would be correct to offer his resignation.

Lord Roben? must surely feel obliged to offer to resign in order to demonstrate the National Coal Board’s acceptance of the blame imputed to it, “The Times” said in an editorial.

Lord Robens had, in fact, already saved the coal industry from despair over its industrial position and future. But if the miners in the Welsh valleys demand a sacrificial resignation, then Lord Roben’s usefulness to the industry would itself be impaired. If they retained their confidence in him, then the Minister for Power would have grounds for urging Lord Robens to stay.

Justice required that some penalty should be paid.

“In all the circumstances, could the chairman allow the penalty to be paid by his subordinates while he himself remained in office?” “The Times” asked. But the “Sun” said that Lord Robens might feel it was his duty to resign but should not do so.

“What would the public gain?” the newspaper asked. “Great problems face the coal industry. Lord Robens has a vital contribution to make. That is where his duty lies." But he must accept general responsibility for the mistakes which caused the tragedy.