Mr. Joseph Batey, minor's representative, who is Labour member for Spennymore. associated the: members of the Opposition with the Minister's words of sympathy with the bereaved. He then made the suggestion that when the public enauiry took place, some independent person should be invited to preside.
The usual practice, he continued, was for a Government inspector to preside at such enquiries, and it was Without wishing to. make any refection on the latter that he made the suggestion. Tt was merely intended fas @ means of giving the public confidence that all the facts in connection with the explosion would be avail-fable, 30 that more active steps might be taken to try and find a way of preventing such explosions in the fature.
Among those injured in the explosions was a miner who was the Second man to reach the pit top Uninjured after the explosion, and who immediately volunteered {0 down with the first rescue party. Subsequently he was badly gassed while assisting In the rescue operations:—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.