Scotswood Colliery

Following an order from the Mines Department that pumping operations should be resumed at View Pit, Scotswood, Newcastle, the scene of the Montagu Colliery disaster, in which 38 men and boys were entrapped and killed, a conference was held there on Tuesday. Among those present were : Mr. Henry Walker, Chief Inspector of Mines ; Mr. Horsley, Electrical Inspector, Ministry of Mines ; and Mr. Herbert Smith, President of the Miners' Federation. The conference was private, and at its conclusion Mr. Herbert Smith said that pumping would be started as early as possible. The Miners' federation had insisted on that, because of the paramount importance that there should be a complete investigation of the causes of the disaster. This they could not have unless they got to the seat of the flood. They also wanted to know who, if anyone, was responsible.