Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

9 articles on this Page

TOO MANY DEATHS IN MINES.

News
Cite
Share

TOO MANY DEATHS IN MINES. Need of Examiners Named by Workmen. Mr James Winstone, vice-president of the South Wales Miners' Federation, ad- dressing a meeting of miners at Ponty- pool, on Monday, took occasion to draw some morals from the terrible Senghenydd explosion and from the recently-concluded inquiry into the disaster. He said he veritably believed that an unnecessary slaughter of miners took place day by day. Although they were faced last year by the heartrending dis- aster at Senghenydd, the mining industry would be a comparatively safe one if deaths by explosion were the only ones that occurred. These deaths, as a matter of fact, were only in the proportion of one to five. It was really remarkable that a large number of deaths took place in places which were considered abso- lutely safe. He urged the need for the appointment of more "fully trained, practical, ex- perienced, properly educated" colliery examiners. He believed the men should appoint the examiners. I LOOKING AFTER MEN'S LIVES If it was necessary for them to appoint checkweighers, and they all realised it was, then it was necessary that they should be given the right to appoint the men to look after the safety of their lives. The examiners should be paid by a tax on mining royalties or by the mining industry. Dealing with the owners' contention as to the cause of the Senghenydd disaster, Mr Winstone said he would never believe that the explosion started at the "locking hole." He thought it a scandalous shame that workmen should be able to say that they had been in a coilierv for 11 years and had never seen an inspector in their working place. (Hear, hear). He was amazed at the statement of Mr Dd. Hannah that "if a fireman found a 'cap' of 2 per cent. of gas the place would be perfectly safe. "Two per cent. perfectly safe! ex- claimed Mr Winstone, "and yet with 6 per cent. you have an explosive mixture. It is simply playing with ifre, and we have to pay too dearly for our folly. I believe the workers have the power to work out their own salvation."

BEDWAS PITS ID'LE. I I BEDWAS…

WESTERN MINERS' AFFAIRS.

! - .ROMANTIC ASSERTION ABOUT…

THE FIRM OF MACK'S SWANSEA.I

[No title]

Advertising

SOUTH WALES HOUSING PROBLEM

SOUTH WALES HOUSING PROBLEM