CONFIRMED BY SENATE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27038, 24 March 1949, Page 7

CONFIRMED BY SENATE

DIRECTOR’S APPOINTMENT UNITED STATES BUREAU OF MINES NZPA—Copyright* WASHINGTON, Rec. 10.20 p.m. Mar. 22. The Senate to-night confirmed Dr James Boyd as Director of the Bureau of Mines. It was partly in protest against Dr Boyd’s appointment by President Truman that Mr John L. Lewis, president of the United Mineworkers’ Union, last week called to more than 425,000 miners to stop work for a fortnight. Dr Boyd has been serving as director, without pay, since December. 1947. _ Mr Lewis had contended that Dr Boyd is not qualified for the post because he had not had practical experience in dealing with mine safety Mr Lewis, in calling the current walk-out said it was partly in protest against Dr Boyd’s nomination and partly as a oeriod of mourning for the 55,000. men he claimed had been killed or injured since Dr Boyd became acting director.

A message received on March 12 said that Mr Lewis had called on all miners east of the Mississippi River to stop work from March 14 to March 28 to emphasise their opposition to the appointment of Australian-born Dr Boyd as director of the bureau. President Truman selected Dr Boyd for the post last year, but the Senate had never approved the appointment, and the Miners’ Union had fought it.