Minister admits mistakes

Press, 2 September 1980, Page 8

Minister admits mistakes

NZPA-Reuter Peking China’s Coal Minister, in What observers saw as an unusual • act" of self-criticism, said a mine disaster in which 52 men died . was ;in J part caused by “grave mistakes in our ideology and work principles,” Chinese Press reports said yesterday. ; Two mine officials would be retried in the ■ case because of public outrage over their suspended sentences. The -.“Workers. Daily”;.re= ported that Mr Gao Yangwen delivered' a rare:self-criticism in an unusual telephone hookup meeting with Ministry representatives throughout the country., •' '■ : He said the Ministry had neglected safety • measures and was.' responsible;for.;the November 23 gas explosion at“hi Songshuzhen coal mine in. Jilin province in ManMine safety ■ was a major. problem; in; China; and it must be improved. . Mine officials Were repeatedly warned of a high concentration of gas arid poor ventilation in; a-new ‘extraction area; of the triine. j? Instead? of suspending , production to '■ take safety precautions, the miners were ordered to .keep working and given bonuses so that the mine’s 1 annual quota could be met, officials said. ;