COAL MINE DISASTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 190, 14 August 1941, Page 4

COAL MINE DISASTER

FINDING OF COMMISSION

NAKED LIGHT THE CAUSE

The Minister of Mines, Hon. P. C Webb, tabled the report of a Royal Commission which was appointed to investigate the Kayes mines disaster, which occurred on November 6, when a lire or explosion in a coalmine at Ten Mile Creek, near Greymouth was responsible for the death of five persons —namely, Messrs. John Kaye, John Leighton Kaye, Lindo Colpo Alexander Mclntosh and Frederick Llewellyn Williams. The Commission reached a conclusion that the explosion in the mine was a gas explosion which was originated by someone, most probably Williams, bringing a naked light in contact with an inflammable gas mixture, and that it spread. The Commission also came to a conclusion | that an examination of the mine had been perfunctory, that the total volume of air produced by a fan was sufficient, but was not properly distributed to the working faces. The use of safety lamps was in accordance with lhe regulations, and the shots were not properly prepared in accordance with the requirements of the regulations. Commenting on the report, Mi. Webb emphasised that the disaster was not due to any weakness in the existing law. but there was little doubt that failure to comply with the Jaw was the cause of the tragic event. The practicability of a more effective policing of the law would be examined, but it would be obvious that there was a limit beyond which it would not be possible to go. Mr. Webb also expressed appreciation ot the excellent work of the Commission. Mr. John Kaye, who was about 55 years of age, was born at Brunner and had been engaged in mining on the West Coast for some 35 years, having worked on the co-operative system for about 17 years. He and his party, including his son Jack, aged 19. and u son-in-law, Mr. Adam Boute, had been working on the Ten-mile Creek Mine for nearly four years. Mr. Kayes only surviving brother in a family of 11 is Mr. C. K. Kaye, of Cornfoot Street, Castlecliff. There are two surviving sisters, Mrs. M. Black, Tauranga, and Mrs. J. Lambert, Wellington.