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Pike River Coal general manager Doug White - Source: ONE News -
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Emotions have run high at the Pike River Royal Commission as evidence emerged the manager at the time was looking for another job minutes after the explosion.
Doug White gave evidence at the Inquiry in Greymouth today.
It was revealed White had emailed a recruitment officer about another job 18 minutes after the initial explosion on November 19, 2010, but says he had no idea there had been a major incident.
The revelation led to a mother of one of the dead to leave the Inquiry in tears, calling out "...this was while my boy was dying, Jesus Christ!".
White faced questions relating to the Department of Labour's investigation after the explosions at the mine, which revealed sub-standard ventilation, lack of methane drainage, and faulty sensors.
Today, lawyer John Haigh read out an email White had sent to a recruitment consultant five days before the explosion, discussing a job he had not taken up, and his desire to now leave the company.
"In the last two days I've seen the true colours of senior leadership here and I don't like what I've seen," the email said.
"I would appreciate a call so we can sort out a way forward out of here. My preference would be to stay in New Zealand and commute," he said.
White was then asked about an email he sent to a recruitment officer 18 minutes after the explosion.
The Commission heard that White was told at 3.50pm the mine had lost power and communications. He then went outside and commented on an unusual smell.
He then sent the email before visiting the control room and the mine portal.
Spokesman for the families Bernie Monk said this is evidence they have not heard before and it is obviously hard to hear.
"If you go out and smell gunpowder, and the knowledge of things were down, well I just can't accept that. It's something he must live with," Monk said.
The revelation is unforgivable, Monk said.
But Haigh said the implications are unfair.
"This is the man who has been primarily concerned about safety in the mine, to leave it on the basis that somehow rather he's ignoring a potential catastrophe and firing off emails to get a job is not a reality," he said.
White said at that time the email was sent, no-one had knowledge there had been an explosion.
Haigh also told the Commissioners today that while White wants to cooperate with the inquiry, he needs to be careful.
"There will be times or may be times when I will need to advise Mr White to exercise the privilege against self-incrimination," he said.
Phase three of the inquiry in Greymouth looks at the cause of
the explosions in the mine that killed 29 men in November
2010, and the systems at the mine.
Yesterday the Department of Labour's electrical expert criticised
the mine's electrical system, specifically the variable speed
drives.
They are believed to have produced volatile electrical current which sparked, igniting built up methane.
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