HUNTLY MINE DISASTER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 4947, 23 September 1914, Page 5

HUNTLY MINE DISASTER.

SECOND EDITION.

DEMAND FOR HIGHER PAY. Electric Telegraph—Press Association. Huntly, This Day. The body of Thomas Berry, engineer and driver, aged 29, was recovered from the Huntly mine this morning. As far as is known only one body, that of William Smith, a deputy, aged sixty, married, is now below. John Jackson, aged twenty, a clipper, single, one of the three injured men taken to the Waikato Hospital, died this morning. Altogether forty bodies have been recovered, with two deaths in hospital, and one man still entombed. The inquest on the victims was opened today before Mr E. Rawson, S.M. Professor Dixon is expected to arrive at noon. Tho Extended mine, in which about 250 men are usually employed, should have re-started work this morning, but miners refused to re-ommenoe operations unless they were granted an increase from 2s 7d to 3s per ton, as they declare that the compulsory use of safety lamps will reduce their output owing to decreased volume of illumination, compared with naked lights. The company offered an increase of one penny, but this the men refused. Shiftmen also demanded a rise from 11s 4d to 12s 6d per day and truckers from 9s 8d to 10s 6d. A deadlock therefore exists. The Miners’ Union held a meeting this morning and decided that a deputation approach the directors on the matter; the meeting also decided not to recommence work until all bodies have been recovered.