MINERS STOP WORK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 6 April 1943, Page 2

MINERS STOP WORK

PROTEST AGAINST LOSS OF DOCTOR MR WEBB REGRETS ACTION Auckland, This Day. The Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, commenting on the stoppage of work by miners at Hikurangi as a protest against the removal of the sole doctor for the district, expressed regret at the mens action last week. He said 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 ask mg for a doctor it did not improve their case by stopping work. The Health Department was at present doing its best to obtain a doctor for the district and he hoped the men would return to work immediately.—P.A.

SUCCESSOR NOT APPOINTED

Miners at Hikurangi and Kamo decided not to resume work until a resident doctor has been appointed to take the place of the doctor who has removed to Whangarei. The pending departure of the doctor was brought under the notice of the Minister a few weeks ago, and a promise made that a successor would be appointed. This has not been done.

The coal output at Kamo was 240 tons a day and at Hikurangi 120 tons —P.A.