FULLEST INVESTIGATION

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 134, 3 December 1926, Page 8

FULLEST INVESTIGATION

THE MINISTER'S DEEP REGRET.

The Minister of Mines (the Hon. G. J. Anderson) stated this morning that ho regretted the unfortunate occurrence at the Dobson mine very deeply. He was not in possession of all tho facts, and therefore could not say anything at present in regard to the disaster further than that the fullest investigation would be made. Apart from the departmental investigation, an inquest will be held. Shortly after the receipt of the news of the disaster by the Mines Department instructions were issued to the officios of the State mine to do everything possible to render assistance in rescue work, etc. The Under-Secretary of Mines (Mr. A. I-I. Kimbell) sent the following urgent telegram to the superintendent of the Stato collieries at Greymouth:— "Please render every possible assistance in rescuing the men in the Dobson mine.'' Later in the morning, upon roccipt of a further message from Greymouth, the following wire was dispatched:—"The Minister directs that no expense is to be spared'by you in rescue work, and that if required arrange for special train or motors. Please wire me hourly results of rescue work." The Department points out that the accident occurred during the "dog" watch, which does duty from 10 o 'clock at night until 6 the next morning, when the fewest number of men is employed in the mine. Had the explosion | occurred either in the course of the day shift or- afternoon shift, the death toll probably would have been very much heavier, as many more men would be in the mine in tho daylight hours.