LABOUR WORLD

Grey River Argus, 23 February 1927, Page 5

LABOUR WORLD

MILLERTON TRAGEDY. N THE INQUEST. (Special to Argus.) WESTPORT, Feb. 22. The inquest as to the death of tire four men in the ATillerton Aline on February ■>, 1 he fate .Messrs Cowan, Alaher. I’(‘arson, and Ford, was resumed here too.iy before Air W. Aleldrum, Coroner. The proceedings negan at 2 p.m. and did not conclude till 9 p.m. Evidence largely on the lines of the statements already published was heard.,. At the conclusion the Cononer inti mated that, he would take time, tq xinsily.se the evidence, and he would-de-liver his verdict, with any rider .which he might consider necessary, at 9 a.ia on Friday. STORY OF~THE TRAGEDY. WESTPORT, February 22. At. the inquest touching the deaths ol William Alaher, William Pearson, Janies Cowan, and Michael Ford (Aline Deputy, Aline Manager. Deputy and Q’nderviewer respectively) in thp Millerton Aline ou February sth, this after noon, before Mr. W. Aleldrum, Coroner, Senior Sergeant Scandsett conducting the enquiry for the poliee.; The: Mines Department, Westport Coal Company, the Miners’ Union, the Deputies Union, ami relatives of the deceased being represented. Lengthy evidence was given, the purport of which was that Pearson and Duffy, wearing the proto-apparatus made a very complete inspection of the mine, and were highly pleased with its condition. The fire, wliTeh had been rag ing for the past six or seven months,, not having damaged the mine to the extent anticipated. The two mine deputies, Ford and,Alatier, requested-leave to make an inspection, and they were allowed half an hour to do it in, and were- given the use of the ptotr machines, and were, instructed to?eonneet them at No. 4 Stenton, before entering the danger -zone. Not returning in half an, hour, another deputy went to look for them, and saw theirs lights burning, and beljeved they were returning to the month of the. dip. They were given a further ten minutes. T.hey did not return, and the party became-any ions. Duffy then went in and he recov*. cred Maher's body. He found that, apparently, the apparatus was not fully in use. Smith .and Cowan next, went in search of Ford. Cowan returned and took oft his apparatus. Smith, in ' the meantime had found Ford’s body.. Cyo wan, on returning collapsed at Smith’s feet, deranging the machine used by Smith, who then endeavoured to drag out Cowan, but collapsed,, and crawled out on his knees, and was also assisted by Duffy, Pearson then put on a proto

apparatus, ,'and. ..went in search Cowan and Ford Tie did not return. Later the bodies of Pearson, Cowan, and ( Ford were recovered in that order ,hv Deputies Brownlie and Pfeffer,

The .evidence made it appear as, it Ford had. not. nil I'v used his machine, and that the oxygon in Pearson’s machine had not been turned on. Evidence was given by two experts as to the condition of the three ma chines used by Pearson, Maher and Ford, stating that they were in perfect ly good order and condition. The Coroner stated he would take time to go through the evidence and would give his verdict on Triday morning 25th. inst. KAITUNA DISPUTE SETTLED. AUCKLAND, lv . 22. The dispute with the crew of the Union Steamship Coy’s steamer Kaituna has been settled. The vessel .sailed for Westport this afternoon, after being de layed in port for eight days. The men had refused to go to sea in the vessel as they alleged she was not seaworthy. Twenty men were charged in. the court with disobeying the master’s orders, but eventually the ehaiges were withdrawn, and the men agreed to rejoin the ship, CHARGES WITHDRAWN. AUCKLAND, Feb. 22. Allegations regarding the seaworthi jUgss of the steamer Kaituna were mud’ at the Police Court* when nineteen, members of the crew, w,ere. charged, with failing to proceed to wa-. without reason.able excuse,, ~ - T.wo boilermakers, recently’ engaged in repairing rhe vessel, supported the seamen’s claim that the vessel was unseaworthy, but the Marine Department surveyor, and others, gave evidence tn the contrary.

The Magistrate said he thought that the crew had no grounds for fear. The ihnrges.were withdrawn in view of his pronouncing the ship seaworthy’.