EXPLOSIVES IN COAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19719, 19 August 1927, Page 12

EXPLOSIVES IN COAL

MINE WORKERS PROSECUTED.

SUPPLY LEFT BELOW GROUND.

COMMENT MADE BY MAGISTRATE. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] HUNTLY. Thursday For having left a tin of explosives in a coalmine, a miner, Alexander Reid, was proceeded against in the Huntly Magistrate's Court to-day, before Mr. Wyvern Wilson, S.M. The inspector of mines. Mr. Barclay, alleged that, being a miner employed in the Pukemiro collieries, Reid failed to bring the explosives remaining in his possession at the end of the shift out of the mine, contrary to the provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1925. Evidence was given by three deputies that, on an idle day, they were doing repair work near Reid's working place, when they found buried a tin of high explosives. This was reported to the manager, who had the tin taken to the colliery office. Subsequently Reid called and asked for his tin, admitting that he had left it in the mine. The magistrate asked the manager of the mine whether this section of the Act was strictly enforced. The manager replied that it was enforced as strictly as possible, but if through inadvertence a miner forgot to bring out his powder at the end of the shift, and subsequently reported it to the office, no further action was taken. In convicting accused the magistrate said he could not too strongly lay stress on the gravity of this offence. Not only were tRe lives of persons engaged in the colliery endangered, but also those ol consumers of coal. Quite recently a number of explosions had occurred in private houses. In inflicting a penalty of £5, and costs 12s, he thought he would indicate to the accused the gravity of the offence committed. Two working mates of accused, Edward McLaughlan and Kio Tar&whiti, were charged with the same offence. Each was fined £2 10s and costs 12s.