DOCTOR WANTED

Grey River Argus, 7 April 1943, Page 6

DOCTOR WANTED

HIKURANGI MINERS’ STRIKE. WHANGAREI, April 6. The miners at Hikurangi and Kamo mines decided on Monday not to resume work until a' resident doctor is appointed to take the place of a doctor who has been removed to Whangarei. The pending departure of the doctor was brought under the notice of the Minister a' few weeks ago. A promise was made that a successor would be appointed. This has not yet been done. The Coal output at Kamo was 240 tons a day and at Hikurangi 120 tons. P.A. WELLINGTON, April 6. The Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C. Webb) commenting on the stoppage ot work by miners at Hikurangi, as a protest’against the removal of the sole doctor ‘for the district, expressed regret at the men’s action last week. He said that the miners interviewed him regarding the necessity for a doctor, and he said he would discuss the position with the Minister of Health when he returned to Wellington. The men had done wrong in stopping work, he added. He realised that mining was dangerous and that in the event of an accident, or any mining disaster, many lives could be lost in the absence of a doctor. While the men had A legitimate case in asking for a doctor, it did not improve their case by stopping work. The Health Department at present was doing its best to obtain a doctor for the district, and he hoped the men would return to work immediately. ’