Natural Justice

The Warden’s court is part of the judicial system. It hears disputes on mining matters and the decision of the court is final.

At Mintabie Opal Fields the opal claims had certain working conditions that had to be adhered to. If any of the conditions were breached, you were in danger of loosing the claim by having it revoked by the Warden’s Court.

Sometimes, other miners plaint (take to the warden’s court) a claim they feel has not complied with working conditions or some other piece of legality.

There was an unwritten law at Mintabie, that no Mintabie miner would plaint another Mintabie miner’s claim. If the claim was held by someone who lived outside of Mintabie than that was O.K.

A local ‘weasel’ of a miner named Andrew, particularly liked the area near the water tank, where we had 3 claims. Shafts on all three claims were interconnected underground. We did not work all of these claims at the same time. Andrew thought this was his opportunity to gain a prime claim in such a good area.

He chose the period immediately following Christmas to plaint my claim! Most miners arrive back to work when the weather begins to cool down. Technically this breached the labor conditions of the claims, because in those days the Christmas break was legally only a few short weeks. We were away enjoying a well earned extended Christmas break. The first I found out about it was when I received a letter of demand to attend the next Wardens court to be held at Marla about an hour away from Mintabie Opal Fields.

Robert and I went to considerable trouble to gather evidence and pictures of proof to present at my side of the hearing. We took photos of the large amount of recent dirt on top of the claims. We drew diagrams of our network of tunnels to demonstrate that work was being done underground on one claim but the dirt was being removed via a shaft on another claim. We got receipts for generator and jack hammer repairs to show why we were late returning to Mintabie Opal fields.

The Warden’s Court convened in a room of the Marla Hotel/Motel. Inside the room the Warden sat at a desk with his “scribe” sitting beside him copying down the proceedings.

Several claims were in dispute that morning so all the miners were waiting outside in the stinking hot summer conditions, shooing away flies and waiting their turn. Robert and I waited nervously with them.

The attendant finally came to the door and announced;”Blythe vs. ‘Weasel’, would all parties please come inside”. We entered the room and sat at the chairs in front of the stern faced Warden. He looked up and said. “Blythe verses ‘Weasel’ is dismissed because ‘Weasel’ is in hospital and is unable to attend.” I immediately responded with, “I hope his stay is long and painful!” The Warden turned to his scribe and said “Don’t write that down!”

We left ecstatic and headed for the bar.