HUNTLY MINE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13493, 23 September 1914, Page 2

HUNTLY MINE.

DEATH OF A SURVIVOR. MEN. DEMAND~HIGHER PAY, . (Per Press Association.! HUNTLY, thjs day. The body of Thomas Berry, engine driver, agecl 29 years, was recovered from the Huntly mine this morning. As far as. is known only one body, that of William Smith, deputy, aged 60, married, is now below. . ' John Jackson, aged 20, clipper, single, one of the three injured men taken to the Waikat/ hospital, died this morning. The other injured man, . Alfred Peckham, junior, is making slow recovery. Young Jackson's death makes the third victim m the Jackson family, two being sons. , Altogether 40 bodies have- ■ been recovered, there having been two" deaths at ,-ihe hospital, and one is still entombed. The. inquest ,on the victims opened at mid-day to-day before Mr Rawson, S.M. Mr MacGassey, Crown Prosecutor, repre- 1 sents the Crown. Mr-Timks is present on behalf of the company^ Professor Dixon was expected to "arrive at noon. The Extended Mine, m which about 250 men ore usually, employed, should nave started work this morning, but the miners refused to recommence operations | unless granted an increase from 2s 7d to 3s per ton,:"as they declare the compulsory use of safety lamps will reduce their output, owing to the reduced volume of illumination compared with naked lights. The company offered, an increase of one penny, but this the men refused. The shiftmen also demanded a rise of from lis 4d to 12s; 6d per day, and truckers 9s 8d to 10s 6d. A deadlock therefore exists.

The Miners' Union held a- meeting this morning, and it was decided that a deputation approach the directors on the matter. The meeting also ' decided not to recommence work" until all the bodies had been recovered.