CONTROL OF COAL MINES

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23444, 26 September 1941, Page 8

CONTROL OF COAL MINES

♦ NEW REGULATIONS PROVISIONS OF BILL EXPLAINED (P.R.) WELLINGTON, September 25. "This bill embodies a few minor alterations to the Coalmines Act, brought about because of the Hunlly disaster," said the Minister for Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) when moving the second reading, pro forma, of the Coalmines Amendment Bill in the House of Representatives to-night. The bill was referred to the Goldfields and Coalmines Committee. "It has been discovered that there is not sufficient supervision in mines where electricity is extensively used, and the recommendations of the commission have been embodied in the bill to enable the appointment of an inspector with a knowledge of electricity to be made,” Mr Webb ’ continued. “The bill provides that all electric equipment must be inspected by a man with an understanding of electricity." The Minister also said that the clause in the bill enabled an inspector of mines to make provision for a man driving a winch to do so without having to spend a long time in study. The bill embodied the recommendations of the Coal Council and had been agreed to by the mine owners and employees. It was quite definitely not a contentious measure. Replying to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland), who had asked whether the bill was meant to nationalise the coalmine owners and make the miners State employees, Mr Webb said that if he were introducing such a bill as Mr Holland suggested he would have given notice of it., Mr Holland; You cannot blame us for being a little suspicious, you know. Provisions of Bill The majority of the clauses are of a machinery nature. It is stipulated that particulars of boring operations must be supplied to an inspector of coalmines. Another clause permits any person authorised by the Minister to enter land to make geological or geophysical surveys for coal-mining. The owner or occupier of land is entitled to compensation for any damage done in making the survey. Every limited coalmining company is required to furnish, before January 31 each year, a true statement of its affairs at the end of the preceding financial year. Default will be considered an offence against the principal act. Coalmine owners who have advanced money to a worker to acquire a home may, with the worker’s written consent, deduct from his wage agreed amounts ‘ toward repayment, provided that the terms of the ’advance were approved by the Minister. Agreements for working coalmining rights on a tribute or royalty basis are set out in detail in the bill. Another clause adds a nominee of the Electrical Wiremen’s Registration Board to the Board of Examiners created under the principal act. An inspector of coalmines is given power in certain circumstances to require the appointment, for any particular mine, of a manager holding a higher certificate than that normally demanded. Several machinery amendments concerning the use of safety lamps are included. An inspector may also require a ventilation, survey, if the percentage of inflammable gas in any working place is not less than 1J per cent. He may also have improvements made to ventilation.