TAUPIRI EXTENDED COAL MINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 25

TAUPIRI EXTENDED COAL MINE.

A STOPPAGE OF WORK. CHECK INSPECTIONS NOT SATISFIED. AUCKLAND, February 7. The miners at the Taupiri Coal Mine Company's extension mine at Huntly did not work to-day. Inquiries at the company's Auckland office indicate that the question at issue concerns the safety of the men A little fire-damp was found in a section of the mine about a week ago, but tho general manager reported that he had immediately rectified this, and rendered- the. mine safe again. On Wednesday the manager received a communication from the newly-elected president of tho union asking that all tho men be withdrawn from tho mine. The president alleged that unsatisfactory conditions prevailed. This the manager refused to do, pointing out that tho constitutional procedure would be for the union to request the local inspector of mines to visit and report on the mine. - Following an interview with the manager, the president, it is stated, chalked up a notice at the pithead that there would bo no work in the property on the following day, and calling a meeting of the union for the afternoon. The company telegraphed to the inspector. February 8. Work at the Waihi Extended mine at Huntly has not yet been resumed, and indications are that tho trouble will not be settled very easily. About 300 miners are idle, representing a loss in production of nearly 900 tons daily. To-day an inspection of the mine was made by Mr Bennio, local Government inspector, the manager of mines, and the men's check inspectors. Mr Bennie's report is not available, but the men apparently anticipate that he will say the mine is safe, as one of tho check inspectors remarked: "Wo disagree with Mr Bennie, and we still think there is danger through the presence of fire and gas." The union officers state that until the check inspectors are satisfied that the necessary precautions have been carried out work will not be resumed. Early in December a cree«p started in a section of the mine, which was olosed. and the drive.was filled up. The men say that it is in this section thev think fire und gas exist. The flooding of this section commenced over two weeks ago, before there was any evidence of fire fumes, and the men contend that *is the water rises gas may be forced round the outer passages and eventually reach the main workings. The management states that there' is no fire, on!v the heating common to all mines, and that the gas apparent on Monday has been .cleared out by ventilation. The flooding of the section was done, not on account of suspected - danger, but to do away with the necessity of daily inspection. The union officials take up the attitude that, if they committed a breach of the .Act in callinor a cessation of work; instead of awaiting the inspector's report, the condition of the mine left them no alternative. The check inspectors, on January 29, observed the company making preparations for extinguishing fire in the mine, and immediately made an inspection, but. owing to the creep, they were unable to ascertain if fire had broken out. Beyond _it they met strong fumes of fire in the vicinity, but, having no actual evidence, "they had to report everything satisfactory. Another inspection on Februarv 1 led to the same report, but they stated that they still had suspicions that fire damp was present. Last Monday the check inspectors paid four i visits to tbe mine, and on the fourth reported that they had discovered a large body of inflammable gas in proximity to the supposed fire. The manager was informed, and ho stopped work in that section. The Government inspector was at Whangarei Work was continued on Tuesday and Wednesday, although a number of miners fearing danger were absent. V A meeting held yesterday, when 250 men were present, endorsed the executive's action in ordering a cessation of work. The general manager was interviewed, and said that the mine was as safe as ever it was, and no other in New Zealand was safer. The gas became a danger only when ventilation was not sufficient. Files of the check inspectors' reports bore out the contention that there was not the slightest danger. If they had suspicions, these should have been mentioned. The check inspectors say_ the position, as far as they are concerned, is that,, on January 27, the inspectors were informed that there were indications of fire in the mine. The position seemed unsatisfactory, and they immcdiate.ly visited tho place and came in "contact with what they believed to be definite fire fumes and a, large body of explosive gas mixture in close proximity. The check inspectors immediately went for the Government inspector, but were informed that he was away on business. Under- tho circumstances, they reported to tho union executive, who, after careful deliberation of the report, together with the check inspectors' report, decided to interview the management and request the immediate withdrawal of the men. This the management refused', on the ground that the reports of fire were unfounded. The committee" then informed the management that it would take the responsibility of the men's withdrawal.

REPORTED SAFE BY INSPECTOR, AUCKLAND, February 11. The report of Mr Binnie, the Government Mines Inspector, on the Taupyi Extended mine, is that the mine is safe, but the miners aF a mass meeting yesterday decided not to resume work until the enclosed area beyond the creep has been flooded to a point that will cover the spot where fire is aJleged to cxist._ Representatives of the Taupiri Coal Mines Company point out that tho Government inspector has now endorsed the opinion of their own officials, who aro certificated men, and who ; being always at the pit, are just as well acquainted with previous conditions in the closed area as aro the miners employed. li Imagine the responsibility cast upon the Government inspector and upon the officials if they declared an unsafe mine to bo safe," said one director of the company. " Are the opinions of uncertificated men to be of more value .than those of qualified experts. From humanitarian

considerations the company would not allow any work in the mine if there was any danger, and regarding the matter from the purely selfish point of view it would not bo worth the risk.*'

PROBABLE RESUMPTION OF WORK, AUCKLAND, February 11. I My Bennie, Government Inspector of Mines, in his report on the Tanpiri Ex- 1 tended Mines, says he failed to find a trac«of fire damp or black damp. The. three roads loading into the seotion were all examined, and in two there was no'danger'! observable. In the third there, is a fall of roof coal, and there are signs of heating duo to spontaneous combustion, buttthere aro no indications that there is fire' there or in other places. Certainly no;; firo was to bo seen. With a view to pre-; venting the mine from taking firo the seoW tion is being flooded, and the portions ar< completely isolated, thus preventing "tha" escape of any gases accumulated there.;. 1 At the time of inspection there was no apparent danger to the safoty of the mine or to the workmen in resuming work in otherparfs of the mine. Union officials state that the check in-'.-specters will visit tho mine at 8 oclock to-j morrow, and their report will govern the* situation. As far as the union is concerned: the check inspectors and the Government inspector agree that wrfen No. 6 section! is submerged all possibility of danger -willf be. eliminated. It is expected that tho-j section will be flooded to-morrow or Wed-'* nesday. Work, it is anticipated, should'; therefore be resumed on Wednesday-; or?« Thursday. "Mr Reed, Chief Inspector, will* arrive on Thursday.