THE HUNTLY COMMISSION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 55, 31 October 1914, Page 6

THE HUNTLY COMMISSION.

JPib Pbbbi Association. | Wellington, .October 30,

The report of the Royal Commission on the-Huntly disaster finds that the explosion was caused by a naked light used by Martin, deceased, thereby igniting a gaseous mixture in No. 6 bore. Safety lamps were used by the mine officials, but naked lights by the workmen. The ventilation of the mine was generally efficient, but was defective as regards section 5. Examination of the mine as a whole was satisfactory, but the inspection of the old workings was inadequate, and the absence of, ladders in the high holds prevented a thorough examination in such places for gas. , The Commission finds that there was not, to its knowledge in the past history of the mine, any occasion on which it was necessary to withdraw workmen. Means of escape in case of accident was afforded by three shafts which, in the opinion of the Commission, was adequate. The Commission criticised the management as follows :

“The management of the mine was, speaking generally, good, hut in ceitain respects, e.g., prompt carrying out of the inspector’s orders, precaution taken against danger from gas, ordering of safety lamps, and examination of old works, was lax and unsatisfactory.”

, Of the Inspector of Mines, the Commission states: 3 “The. Inspectors of Mines is a careful,, competent officer, zealous and conscientious in his.woj’k; but he was, remiss in not exacting prompt and strict obedience to . his orders, in not more frequently visiting the old workings. He committed an error of judgment in not insisting on safety lamps being used ,in the mine after the accident to the miner Kelly. The inspection by the workmen’s- inspectors was infrequent and valueless. .No inspection was made of hords 4, 5 and .6 of section 5 in the old workings by any person, on the morning',of the accident before the workmen were permitted to enter. The door at the end of hord .No. 6 of section- 5, where it .connects with the working part of the mine, was not locked, nor in any other way securely fastened. If there had been no neglect with respect to these matters, the disaster in the mine could not have happened.” t RECOMMENDATIONS.

.The Commission, made a number of suggestions for the prevention, as far as possible, of similar accidents, and for the safe working of this and. other mines in the future, bufc .they,found,in most instances that their intended recommendations had been anticipated by the. Coal. Mines .Amendment Jill, jnow before Parliament. Regarding coal dust in mines, the Commission deemed it .imperative that legislation should he passed with the object of pmenting if .possible, or mit'gut.ng, danger arising from the presence of coal dust in mines, and recommended the, adoption of legislation on this matter- similar to that in Great Britain. The Commission considered the provisions for tlie reporting of njaries lo Workmen were somewhat loose and uncertain, as it was left ,to the judgment of the mine manager in every Case to decide, whether or not the injury was serious. The following should be incorporated in the Goal Mines Act: “In all dry and mines where the Inspector of Mines is of opinion -that dust of a highly inflammable nature exists in * dangerous- quantities,- and also in mines where safety lamps are in use, no explosives ■ but those permitted by the Chief Inspector of Mines shall be used,, and all the shotfiring sball .be done by an official specially appointed by the manager. The Commission was of opinion that the existing law did not give the Inspec-. tor of Mines direct authority to. order the use of safety lamps or other appliances, and .recommended the insertion in the Act of .a definite section giving such authority.

A QUESTION OF EXPLOSIVES. The sittings, of .the Court of .Arbitration inquiring, into whether monobel powder is an explosive which may be safely used in the coal mines at Huntly have concluded. The award will be announced as soon, as the arbitrators have arrived at a decision.