LIQUOR IN MINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3994, 30 September 1930, Page 26

LIQUOR IN MINE.

DRIVER OF ENGINE FINED. HAMILTON, September 26. John Tudor, formerly the driver of a haulage engine in the mine of the Glenafton Collieries, was charged to-day with taking intoxicating liquor into the mine contrary to regulation 72 of the Mining Act. The defendant pleaded guilty. Mr W. Barclay, inspector of mines, stated that Tudor was discovered under the influence of liquor by Deputy W. Summers at 11 p.m., and was escorted out of the mine. On examination of Tudor’s crib bag in the machinery house a bottle of whisky was found. Asked by the magistrate if he had anything to say, the defendant replied: “I may as well say nothing. It was not pure whisky. There was water in it.”

In imposing a fine, Mr F H. Levien, S.M., said that it was a most dangerous practice for a man operating machinery, especially underground, to be intoxicated, as he was a menace to all the other workers.

As the case was the first of its kind the inspector did not press for a heavy penalty,, and as Tudor had been relegated to a subordinate position he was fined £3, the Bench giving a sharp warning that the next offender would receive no sympathy from the court.