MAN WITH RUINED NERVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21716, 3 February 1934, Page 3 (Supplement)

MAN WITH RUINED NERVES

ECHO OF GREAT MINE TRAGEDY REFUSAL TO WORK NEAR MINE There is a man who is prepared to sacrifice everything rather than work near a coal mine. He is Harold Roberts, of Bentley, Yorkshire, the only coal-face survivor of the Bentley pit explosion in 1931. Mr. Roberts, persists in his refusal, though his compensation has just been reduced by 13s a week in the Doncaster County court, because he will not take light work in the lamp-room at the colliery where the disaster occurred. The man says that memories of the explosion ' still haunt him two years afterwards. He was the only survivor of 46 men working at the face when an explosion occurred. His forearm was fractured and, working naked to the waist, he was terribly burned, and his life was despaired of for four weeks. Mr. Roberts said recent]v: "My nerves were ruined. Even to-day I stiil feel that the roof of my house is going to fall in on mo at any moment. I am constantly haunted by the deafening roar and flames of that scene underground. I'have fought ' against it, but without success. 1 refuse to work near a colliery again." The compensation paid to Mr. Roberts has been reduced from 29s Id to 16s Id a week. He is breeding poultry, and hoping to make a living in that way. There was a conflict of medical evidence at Doncaster County Court, on the question whether a light job in the lamp room of the Bentiey pit was suitable work for him. Mr. Roberts has a wife and three children.