Interview with Robert Andrews

Robert Andrews describes biking to work; using the coal cutting machine; night shifts; number of shifts; getting coal from face; the earliest coal cutting machines; pit ponies at Glen Afton; accidents; the Glen Afton disaster; getting a deputies ticket; deputies and underviewers; cavelling for jobs; the Alison number 2 mine; introducing scraper loading into Alison; hydro mining in South Island; attempt to introduce hydro loading into Alison; working at the mine rescue station; ambulance certificate; training required; accidents attended underground; people pretending to be hurt; conditions of mining in World War II; danger of fires.

Recalls wartime rations; nationality of miners; Rotowaro in the 1940s; the Rotowaro soccer team, Chatham Cup finalists; the church; school; entertainment; the undermanager's job; the 1951 strike; strikes during World War II; job as mine inspector in 1970s; changes in mining; coping with mining underground; using the glenie lamp; miners' diseases; Huntly coal compared to West Coast coal; uses of different types of coal; disposal of slack; establishment of carbonisation works; managers' accomodation; hydraulic mining at Bennydale.

Venue - Ngaruawahia

Interviewer(s) - Jamie Mackay

Venue - Robert Andrews' home at 55 Old Taupiri Road, Ngaruawahia

Quantity: 1 C90 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 1.20 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 726 - also contains excerpts of tape transcripts.

Search dates: 1992

Original recordings not available for playback. Surrogate copies will be provided.

Alternative form available: Listening copies are available at OHLCD-2282 to OHLCD-2283