MINERS' COMPLAINT

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 71, 22 September 1915, Page 10

MINERS' COMPLAINT

BETTER COMPENSATION REQUIRED GOVERNMENT URGED TO TAKE ACTION. A disease as formidable as its name is pneumoconiosis, or miners' complaint, which has severl times this season been discussed in the House of Representatives. Yesterday afternoon it was once more lef erred to. the discussion arising out of the report of the Mines Committee on new regulations presented by the Minister of Mines. (Hon. W D. S. Macdonald). , Mr. J Payne urged an improvement generally- in miners' conditions. Mr H. Poland protested that the amount paid as compensation in cases in which miners died of miners' complaint was utterly inadequate. He pointed out that the compensation provided under the Workers' Compensation Act in the case of death was £500, as against £50 paid when a man died of miners' complaint. He urged better conditions for the miners, and considered that when the temperature in a mine exceeded 80deg. men should not be allowed to work for more than six ,hours a day Medical men should be appointed to see that the men worked under healthy and proper conditions. The Government should bring down a measure to provide adequate compensation. Mr. L. M. Isitt said it was an absolute scandal that nothing had been done after the matter had been discussed for so many years. Members should see before the session closed that something was done. ' J Mr. G. J. Anderson said he was I astonished that something better had not j been done. He urged the Government to deal comprehensively with the matter I in the way of invalidity pensions. Mr C. H. Poole supported Mr. Anderson's proposal. He sincerely trusted that the representations made that day would not fall on deaf ears. Mr. W H. Field also supported the idea of invalidity pensions to cover all people who were crippled through working in any of the industries of the country. Dr. Thacker pleaded that in addition to the soldiers at the ■ front the "industrial soldiers" should bo looked after, and the present — when a National Cabinet was in existence — was an opportune time for dealing with such a matter. He suggested that the scheme should be linked up with the National Provident Fund. The Hon. W D. S. Mac Donald (Minister for Mines), in reply, said that he was sure that all the men engaged in the, industry were satisfied that considerable improvements had been made in the mining regulations. As regards miners' complaint anyone who had followed the industry up would know that there had been great improvement in the conditions. With reference to compensation a Bill was being brought down this .session providing for compensation at so much a week to be paid out of the Consolidated Fund. He agreed that some better system of medical inspection was necessary. Mr. Scott also replied. He said that the Mines Committee always had in view the welfare of the miners, and under the present conditions in the quartz mines it was now hardly possible for a man to contract miners' disease. Under the new regulations it would not be possible for a man to work in a temperature of more or less than 80 degrees for more than six hours. '