DOBSON MINE DISASTER

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 67, 13 December 1926, Page 10

DOBSON MINE DISASTER

FLOODING OPERATIONS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED DEPUTATION WAITS ON MINISTER Dominion Special. Greymouth, December 11. Following heavy rains last evening the Grey River became swollen resulting in flooding operations at the Dobsou mine being temporarily stopped. The weather cleared this morning, and flooding will be resumed as soon as the river subsides. The Hon. G. Anderson (Minister for Mines) and Mrs. Anderson visited Dobson this afternoon. They were accompanied by Mr. T. E. Y. Seddon, M.P., Mr. A. H. Kimball (Under-Secretary of Mines), Mr. J. A. Bayne, and other officials of thq Mines Department. The party called on Mrs. Black, who returned to Dobson yesterday for the first time since her husband was entombed in the mine, also Mrs. Marshall and other bereaved widows, spending some time at each of their homes. A memorial service was held at Dobson this afternoon, when the Rev. J. F. Martin, of St. PauFs Methodist Church, Greymouth, officiated. In connection with the Dobson, relief fund the Mayor of Greymouth (Mr. W. H. Parfitt) informed the Minister of Mines (lion. G. J. Anderson), when a number of deputations waited upon him last evening, that the Greymouth Borough Council, at its next meeting, proposed to vote something towards this object. The council, however, had spent up to its limit as far as authorised expenditure was concerned, and it might, therefore, be surcharged with the amount voted. It was thought that legislation might be enacted, or a recommendation be made to Cabinet, so that the grant could be made, not only by the local borough, but by similar bodies throughout New Zealand. The Minister said that he would recommend the matter to the Minister for Internal Affairs. Regarding the fund, he could not discuss- the matter as yet, there were several funds still unexpended, and he thought he would ask Cabinet to deal with the remnants, so that they could be put into funds, such as the present one. Any money raised, if judicially administered, could help the people concerned. He considered it a laudable idea to raise the money, and invest it so that it could be of help. There was not a more generous people on the face of the earth than in New Zealand. Mr J. O’Brien said that what was wanted was validating legislation, or an Order-in-Council. It was intended to make the fund wide enough to provide for other interests of relief in the district. ■ Mr. Anderson said that the grant could not be made by an Order-in-Coun' cil, but by legislation, and repeated that he would ask the Hon. Mr. Bollard to bring the matter before Cabinet. ?■ Among the numerous messages received by Mr. F. Williams (Mayor of Brunner) is the following from the North-East Valley, Dunedin“ The Dunedin Council of Christian Congregations desire you to convey their deepest sympathy to bereaved through disaster at Dobson mine, and also the miners. —George Miller, secretary.”

THE DEPARTMENT’S POLICY BY TEIiEGBAPH.— PBBSB ASSOCIATION. Greymouth, December 11. The Minister of Mines arrived on Saturday. The Under-Secretary for Mines (Air. Kimball) was also present, when deputations met the Minister, who said that aq inquiry into the disaster would be held as soon as possible. It seemed that no matter what precautions were taken, especially in gassy mines, calamities occurred. He alluded to the disaster of ten years ago, where the mortality was colossal, despite the fact that precautions had been regarded as perfect. The Department could only take the advice of experts. His policy had been safety first. With reference to the Omoto slip, the hlinister stated that the engineer was next day starting to drive the piles for bridging the gully where subsidence was taking place, and he believed the difficulty would soon be overcome. Regarding a request to improve the facilities at State mines in order to avert a recurrence of unemployment, the Minister said that, while getting good coal orders, the Department found certain prejudice among the gas managers and others against New Zealand coal, but as soon as the Department was satisfied that extra bins were required they would be provided. Plans for these were being prepared, but last year’s profit was too small to warrant large expenditure. The Department sold coal cheap in order to help the poorer people in the centres, and was not looking for large profit. It was now experimenting with slack, and believed that shortly there would be no wastage of this fuel at the State mines. THE MAYOR’S APPEAL. The Mayor, Air. C. J. B. Norwood, has issued an appeal to the citizens of Wellington for assistance for the relatives of those who lost their lives, in the recent disaster at the Dobson mine. Tn a communication on the subject His Worship mentions the ready , response that Wellington has invariably given, on such distressing occasions, and adds that the donors of financial help may rely that every care.will .be taken in regard to the administration of the fund, so that the maximum amount of good may be. obtained from the money raised. Additional donations have been received in Wellington from: Civic League, £lO 10s.; the Afayor, £5 55.; Airs. Miller, £1; , Tn PP; , £3 35.; F.W.P., £1 Is.; J. Gentles, ALA., and A. L. Richardson, each 10s.; Mrs. O. C. Pool and J. S. Pool, each ss.