Mine-Safety Study

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31728, 11 July 1968, Page 28

Mine-Safety Study

(N.Z. Press Association) July 10. WELLINGTON, A leading United States mine safety expert, the retired director of the United States Bureau of Mines, Mr M. J. Ankeny, has been appointed to examine safety in New Zealand coalmines. The Minister of Mines (Mr Shand) said today that although there had always been a close association between coalmining in New Zealand and Britain, it had been decided to bring in an expert from America. “By and large we have adopted methods, attitudes, and regulations that correspond to what is done in Britain,” he said. “It was after careful thought that my department and I decided that a look at our operations by someone from a different background might be more valuable than an inspection by a British Mr Shand said the United States, like Britain, had mines with good and bad safety records. “In the early years the coalmines of North America had a dreadful reputation for lack of safety, but in recent times tremendous attention has been paid to safe practices.

concurrent with the development of modern methods of mechanical mining.” Mr Ankeny began his career as a miner and his experience in safety work went back to 1926, when he was apointed director of safety and welfare for the National Mining Company at Morgan,

Pennsylvania, Mr Shand said. He joined the Bureau of Mines, the equivalent of the New Zealand Mines Department, in 1928 and served with the bureau until his retirement four years ago. For the last eight years of his service he was director of the bureau.