PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 21581, 29 November 1933, Page 14

PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES [Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, November 28. ■ The House of Representatives met to-day at 2.30 p.m. Mr P. A. de la Pcrrello (Awarua) gave notice of his intention to introduce the Bluff Harbour Board and Borough Council Empowering Bill. The Minister of Health (Mr Young) gave’ notice of his intention to introduce the Summer Time Amendment Bill No. 2. Mr J. O’Brien (Westland), in association with Mr A. M. Samuel (Thames) asked why there had been no public inquiry into the accident in the Waihi mine on July 2G last, when thirteen men were hurled down the No. 2 shaft. He also asked what were the results of the departmental inquiry into the causes of the accident, and what stops had been taken to ensure that the regulations under the Mining and Inspection of Machinery Acts were carried out so that there would bo no recurrence of such an accident. The Minister of Mines (Mr Macmillan) said the Under-Secretary of Mines had raised the question as to the holding of a public inquiry into the accident, hut in view of the exhaustive investigation which had been held, no good reason had appeared to exist which would have justified the expense of holding it. “ The Chief Inspector of Machinery, the Inspecting Engineer of Mines, and the Inspector of Minos investigated the whole circumstances connected with the cause of the accident,” the Minister said, “ and in connection with this investigation they wore assisted .by the secretary of the local Miners’ Union. Arising out of this investigation remedial measures were taken immediately, and I am now advised that everything possible has been done to prevent a recurrence of the accident The accident could not he attributed to any breach of the law.” Debates on the Estimates appear under separate headings. The following classes wore passed;—State Fire Insurance Account, £34,713; Government Accident Insurance Account, £20,270; Internal Affairs, £320.224; Justice and Prisons, £250,635; Police, £435.769; Marine, £102,200; Land and Survey, £162,235. The House rose at midnight.