STRONG ALLEGATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 July 1936, Page 4

STRONG ALLEGATIONS

GRESFORD MINE INQUIRY. LONDON, June 11. “1 have never known such startling revelations of bad managership in a pit,” said Mr. Joseph Hall, of the Mi no workers’ Federation, when the inquiry into the Gresford Colliery disaster was resumed in London yesterday. The disaster, in which 265 lives were lost, happened in September. 1934. Sir Henry Walker, Chief Inspector of Mines, is presiding over the inquiry, assisted by Mr. John Brass, of Barnsley, and Mr. Joseph Jones, president of the Mineworkers’ Federation, as assessors. Mr. Hall, continuing his speech from lite previous day, said the explosion could have been caused by shot tiring, and there was also every reason to believe that it could have been caused by the use of electricity in the mine. "We look upon the use of electricity

in coal mines as a source of danger,’ added Mr. Hall, “and we hope that the liilure will bring to the statute hook of this country a law to prevent the use of electricity in coal mines.'’ Referring to reports of the presence of gas in the pit, Mr. Hall said, "The 1 I’s district appeared to be at one time almost a gasometer. "We resent very much indeed the fact that our men working at Gresford had to tolerate the conditions that existed there. At any moment, at any pit where practices of this kind prevail. disasters like that of Gresford can take place. “Some of the men have told us that they were afraid to go to the pit, afraid that some explosion would take place. One of the commandments of the mining industry is ‘Thou shall not report two and a-half per cent, of gas.' Gresford should have been ventilated so as to be free of gas altogether. "We are hoping that in future there will be no shot-liring in any district where gas exists. That would force the colliery companies to provide good ventilation and good conditions.” Mr. Hall maintained that deputies in coal mines should be free from what he called "the shackles" of the colliery company. "Some deputies are afraid of their job," said Mr. Hall. "It has come to this now, that even an under-manager is afraid of his job. The employment of a deputy ought to rest with the Government, not with a colliery owner. "Deputies ought to act as policemen. If the civil public are entitled to have a policeman to lake care of their i civil rights, surely we ought to have I someone to lake care of our industrial rights." , .Mr. Hall maintained that the iniptiiry should concentrate on the dust samples taken in the pit and on the question whether they were truthful!)

I reported upon. | MOST ACCIDENTS AT NIGHT. I Sir Henry Walker intervened saying "You are in the unfortunate circumsiane that the man who took the samples is dead." Referring to statements that 51 r. lionsell. manager of the pit, had told an assistant surveyor named Cuffin to in- • ent figures of pit measurements which were never actually taken. Mr. Hall

said: "I hope and trust that the Brit ish public will never allow persom I similar to Mr. Bonscll ever to admin ' :ster on behalf of a colliery again. | "1 am going to use all my energy tc Htop these nefarious practices taking I ] lace. The outside, public does nm. know a millionth pari of what is taking place in our industry.”

Mr. Hall complained (hat Mr. Bensell did not visit the pit on night shifts. "Many of the worst colliery disasters in ihe last five or six years,” he said, "have taken place during the night, yet Bonscll never saw a shot fired at niglu.

“Thai, is startling, lie did not. even know how many men were on Ihe night .shift. What is more, he did not care. “If we do not severely punish for bad administration. then we shall have these things constantly occurring. It is rather a pity that we cannot place these men in the same position as. we will say, one individual who committed a crime that astonished the country—a man who was the cause of two person's going to their death. “The reason why these 260 odd men at Gresford have gone into eternity is bad administration.

“I have never had in my experience such startling revelation of bad managership. Surely we are not going out of our way when we demand from the Mines Department that the severest and most rigorous punishment should be meted out.”

Mr. Hall referred to Mr. Bonsell’s statement about his mental state and worry after the explosion and during the inquiry.

“I wonder,” said Mr. Hall, “if Mr. Bonsell has ever thought about the minds of the poor people of Gresford and surrounding district. I wonder if he has thought about the life punishment that some of those people have to bear.

"There are some mothers who have lost their sons and will never forget that they are down there yet. There are some wives who lost their husbands and will never forget that they are down there yet.”

BAFFLED EVERYONE”

In another reference to Mr. Bonsell, Mr. Hall said: “See the ingenuity of 'hat mind! Even Sir Stafford Cripps (for the Welsh Mineworkers’ Association). with his intellectual capacity, has been baffled. He has absolutely baffled everybody here. “Do not think I am trying to thrash this man to death. 1 am saying this because I know there’ are the same sort of activities in other collieries. "This man should be made an example of to prevent other men from doing what he has done.” Mr. W. J. Charlton; divisional inspector of the Ministry of Mines, referring to records of inspection visits to Gresford, said that counsel had painted quite a false picture. Grestord had its full share of inspections in 1934—14 in nine months.

Mr. Charlton put forward the theory that gas entered the workings and was ignited from a telephone. “A man turned a handle to use the telephone, and he blew that pit up.” he added.

Air. Miller, of the Lancashire and Aorth Wales branch of the Federation ot Colliery Deputies and Firemen, com-fh-ined that Sir Stafford Cripps had .accused firemen of deliberately lying. ”1 am rather sorry that political influence has been introduced into such

<i. serious matter as this,” he went on. “I believe that Sir Stafford’s abilities have been carried too far through lack of pit experience. “11 the firemen were lying, then they were lying in good company—with the representative of the Miners’ Federation and the agents and myself." The inquiry was adjourned till July