MINERS CEASE WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27092, 28 May 1949, Page 8

MINERS CEASE WORK

DOCTOR REQUIRED IN STOCKTON URGENT REPRESENTATIONS FA WESTPORT. May 27. The Stockton Miners’ Union, at a special meeting to discuss the position of doctors in mining townships, passed the following resolution:—“ That the Stockton Miners’ Union ask the Minister of Health to raise the grading of the Buffer District Hospital to enable the district to retain the services of Dr D. R. Ryder. The organisation is convinced that it is in the best interests of the district to retain the services of an efficient surgeon. The isolation of this district from a surgical point of view calls for the most up-to-date service available.” The Stockton miners have been idle for two days, as no doctor has yet been appointed to their area in place of Dr J. D. Simpson, who has been unable to act for some days owing to the effects of an accident. The men claim that the dangerous nature of their work entails the permanent presence of a doctor within caff in case of accident, and they are determined not to resume work until one is available. Dr E. H. Peat, of Granity, has been "doing much of the work over a wide area from Seddonville to Millerton, including Ngakawau and Stockton, in the absence of Dr Simpson, but an outbreak of measles amongst the children and a form of influenza has increased his duties so much that he cannot always be on caff from the mines.

Mr George Orman, district representative for the Buffer miners, said the men regarded the position seriously, and wanted the assurance of urgent attention to accident cases, which has not been available since the absence of the regular doctor. He added that the Director-general of Health, Dr T. R. Ritchie, and Dr Duncan Cook, head of the medical division of the Health Department, were expected to visit the district during the week-end to discuss with the Miners' Central Committee the servicing of mining areas. It' is understood that there is every possibility of all miners in Buffer ceasing work if a satisfactory solution of the difficulty is not found.