Alison Coal Mine

Date: 25 Feb 1992

From: Huntly Coalfields oral history project

By: Andrews, Robert Alexander, 1920-2008

Reference: OHInt-0020/06

Description: 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

Date: 27 Jan 1992

From: Huntly Coalfields oral history project

By: McGilp, Donald James, 1912-2004

Reference: OHInt-0020/01

Description: Don McGilp gives biographical details; childhood; time in Athenree, early 1920s; first job in the new Macdonald mine; system of allocating jobs; pay systems; shot holes; relationships with deputies; accidents in mines; the Renown pit in 1932; description of FTC raid in Huntly; conditions during the Depression. Describes buying own equipment; the pillar workings; underviewers; union agreements; wastage; more about accidents; reference to Alan Baxter; reference to Alison mine, Pukemiro mine; work of union 'check inspector'; disputes for wet time; using horses at Glen Afton mine; special shiftmen at Rotowaro and Macdonald mines; reasons for move to Rotowaro mine; job in sugar factory; demand for miners during World War II; strike of 1942. Discusses the 1951 strike; emergency regulations; opencasters scabbing; police; support from railway workers; poaching of sheep; description of British mining; theory about Russian situation; good points about mining as job; formation and demise of Labour Party; social life in Huntly; Pukemiro miners and their medical system; the closure of Rotowaro; being unable to buy a house at Rotowaro; the effects of coal dust on miners; advantages of coal range over electric stove; eleven killed at Glen Afton mine in 1939. Venue - Huntly Interviewer(s) - Jamie Mackay Venue - Donald McGilp's home at 21 Harlick Place, Huntly Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004386 - OHC-004387 Quantity: 2 C90 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 2.57 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 721 - contains excerpts of transcripts of tapes.

Date: 11 Mar 1992

From: Huntly Coalfields oral history project

By: Smith, Gordon Haining, 1917-

Reference: OHInt-0020/09

Description: Gordon Smith recalls working in Denniston during Depression (1930s); family background in mining; father got carbon dioxide poisoning; thoughts about 1951 strike; first job at Denniston; the timber skips; stone drives; gradient for mining seam at Alison; manpowered to mines in World War II; job as underviewer; disagreement with manager over gradient of drive; the origins and closing of the Whatawhata mine; width and height regulations in mines; horses at Denniston; the Glen Afton disaster; the explosion at Hill 60 (Rotowaro); fires in mines; the mines rescue station. Describes damages to lungs; life in Rotowaro; getting a house; going back to Rotowaro in 1992. Venue - Ngaruawahia Interviewer(s) - Jamie Mackay Venue - 136a Great South Road, Ngarawahia Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004397 Quantity: 1 C90 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 1.15 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 729 - also contains excerpts of tape transcripts.

Date: 24 Feb 1992

From: Huntly Coalfields oral history project

By: Spence, John William, 1913-; McCallum, Andrew Shepherd, 1924-

Reference: OHInt-0020/04

Description: Jack Spence and Mick McCallum outline biographical details; Jack Spence's first job installing electric wiring at Pukemiro; importing coal from Australia in 1930s; poor pay during the Depression (1930s); layoffs; disposing of slack; dangerous fires; putting out fires; making direct current power, alternating power introduced; rectifers; enjoyment of job; practical jokes in mine; hand boring holes; floor lifting from coal pressure; shortage of truckers; contract mining; increases in truckers' wages; Mick's sister's work; opening of the bowling club, 1957; Rotowaro in finals of Chatham Cup (soccer); drinking homebrew; kids playing in bush. They recall shops in town, the bakery; dances; going to Huntly on payday; fights on the return train; reference to Eddie Awa selling kumara at school; reference Tumate Mahuta; out of towners coming to mines to escape going to World War II; accidents; pre-arranged accidents; the working day; the trains; house builders; Jack Spence in the local band; early cars; horse transport; farming miners; entertainment; illegal gambling; lack of crime; Jack at Alison Mine; wages and redundancies at Dairy Company mines; the English; trains; the carbonisation works. They talk about the immigration of Scottish mining families to Rotowaro; reference to Rona Scurr, early teacher; earliest houses and roads in Rotowaro; the post office; striking during World War II and the start of government controlled mines; split in the village due to the 1951 strike; Huntly power station; comparison of amount of gas found in mines; relations with deputies; the home guard in Rotowaro; more on carbonisation works. Venue - Huntly Interviewer(s) - Jamie Mackay Venue - 29 Hakanoa Street, Huntly Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-004390 - OHC-004391 Quantity: 2 C90 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 1.58 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete AB 724 - also contains excerpts of tape transcripts.