A MINE DANGER

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 November 1936, Page 5

A MINE DANGER

ELECTRIC CUTTERS. SYDNEY, November 5. Mr. Hindmarsh, the commissioner appointed to investigate conditions at the Aberdare Central Colliery, where it was proposed to introduce an electric cutter, has submitted his report to the Minister for Mines, and it has been duly published. The report has been received with satisfaction by the B.H.P. management, who regard it as a. victory for themselves; for Mr. Hindmarsh has reached the conclusion that an electrically, driven coal-cutting machine can be worked at Aberdare Central with safety under existing conditions. On the other hand it is claimed with justice by the miners that the report contains so many reservations and lays down so many conditions that it real- j ly supports the miners' case; or, as Mr. Orr, general secretary of the Min-J ers’ Federation has said, “the find- i ings justify the stand made by the; unions, since they show that existing rules do not provide the necessary safeguards.” As I have discussed the dispute at length before, it may be remarked that the point at issue between min-

ers and management was whether, in view of the “gassy" nature of the mine, an electric cutter could safely be operated there. The miners contended that especially in a “gassy” mine there is always a danger of an accidental spark from electrical apparatus, and more especially from a trailing cable, causing an explosion. Mr. Hindmarsh thinks that there would be more risk with an electric cutter than the miners run now in “shooting off” from a solid mass of coal. The. "Labour Daily” points out that here Mr. Hindmarsh admits that dangers from gas escapes exist in the mine now, and it is small comfort to the miners to know that the introduction of the electric cutter may increase them. VENTILATION QUESTION. ! Again, Mr. Hindmarsh considers that /‘the present ventilation is adequate to dilute and render harmless any inflammable or obnoxious, gas that may be given off" and this leaves in complete uncertainty the question whether such an outflow of gas may be expected at any moment in the mine. In any case mine managers always insist that ventilation is adequate, for otherwise they could not induce the men to work there; and it was while experts were in the witness box testifying that the ventilation in the Mount Kern-

bla mine was practically perfect that the terrible explosion occurred which blotted out scores of lives and left a dark stain on the pages of our mining history. There is no proof that the ventilation at Aberdare caii always carry off all the dangerous grimes that may be generated there; and there is always the. danger of that “accidental spark” which has in the past caused such almost inconceivable disasters. Even Mr. Hindmarsh admits that an explosion thus caused is a possibility at Aberdare. The report tells us that “the occurrence of an arc or spark from a damaged trailing cable at the colliery under review is very remote.” This may

sound quite satisfactory to the management, but the men may not be content' to know that the difference between life and death for them depends upon a possible contingency, however remote it may be. Over and beyond these admissions lhe report insists upon the need for certain precautions which all help to emphasise the potential dangers latent in the mine. Cables of special type must he used to protect the machinery and prevent accidental discharges and sparks, and the, headings and passages where the cutter is worked must not exceed a certain width, so as to ohviatb an escape of gas in any considerable volume. Further, all electri-

cal equipment used for coal cutting or for any other purpose in the mine must be of a type approved by the Chief Inspector of Coal Mines. There are other conditions introduced, but these points are sufficient to show that, though the report concedes to the management the right to introduce the electric coal cutter at Aberdare, this consent is hedged round with so many limitations ami conditions and it is so largely hypothetical in character that the miners who refused to work under the new system may well feel that their opposition to the proposed change has been amply justified. The testimony of the “Labour Daily” on such matters is, of course, always coloured by its political prejudices, but the Langite organ has found, ground for its contention ihat tlie Commissioner is by ho means satisfied 'With the condition of things at Aberdare and that the entire question of /nine safety is one demanding the urgent attention of the Government.