A MINING BILL.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 296, 8 September 1908, Page 5

A MINING BILL.

TRADES UNION . INSPECTORS. ... „ PROTECTION OF The Mining Act Amendment" Bill, which has been introduced by the Hon. J. M'Gowan, was circulated last,, night. v , ~,lt, consists of 18 clauses, designed, to,. ijweiid„thc oxisting law in several directions. % . It is provided that prospecting--warrants and licenses may, with thd consent' of tho trustees, be granted ovia"anyrsotlowmbht,'or: public reserve. In the ;case of "an"'application for a dredging claim comprising portion of a stream which hascbeen, previously-held, as a dredging claim aftd,.,abandoned,,:tho warden may in his discretion, but; subject, to tho approval of the Minister, grant to the applicant a special dredging.-claim, of--any shape and area. . SPECIAL' '"GILAIMS. Whore gold is associated with ptlier.metals or minerals a special elkim may'be'granted,■' and the holder thereof shall be entitled to all metals or minerals..within..the_homidariesof tho claim, and to mine for or remove the same. / The provisions in regard to the rent "of extended and spccial claims aro amended by a proviso, "that if in tho case'of any claim'the' warden is satisfied that.on: account of .'climatic conditions work cannot be carried on during at least three months" of -the year-'the' rent shall not exceed-five-shillings ■ for-any year." . » - ■. An application for a residence-site- license shall not be granted unless the applicant. is, the holder of a miner's, righti.issued; in-.thp. mining district in which'"the residence-sito applied for is situated. TIMBER _ All timber-cutting rights 'shtvli be granted by the Commissioner of Crown Lands, but in. warden's timber-areas such ,rights shall only be granted with the approval of tho warden..-I'v MINE MANAGERS' CERTIFICATES,' The Bill proposes to repeal tho proviso in tho present Act which gives', candidates for certificates as niine or battery managers or dredge masters tho right to_ bo oxamined at the end of three months without tho payment of a;/se.coifd Tlio provisions of the principal Act as to tho working of mines and the safety of life and property therein are amended by tho addition of two or three additional safeguards. INSPECTION BY'. WORKMEN. The Bill provides that whero . workmen employed in a mino" are'' members of a registered union of workers, the union may, at its own cost, appoint any. two persons to inspect'> the ■ mine,whether' thoso persons are employed. in the .mine or not. The persons so appointed .shall Jiavo full liberty to inspect everj' part mine, its machinery, treatment plant, and ings, onco at least in "e\'<?ty"month. ' Prior to any such.'."inspectionttotico'.'iu writing shall "be served;on the-certificated manager of the mine. The■ mine-owner and mine-manager-'may accompany the persons-so appointed-in their inspection, and shall give them full and freo. tlio insnPoEon. —- - '-

The persons so appointed,Tshall make a full and faithful report in writing,,of of their inspection, which report ..shall.,ho signed by them, and 'tliby stall furnish a copy thereof to tho owncr_or.jnanagcr._ol.tlia mine, who shall cause the same to bo recorded in a book kept at the offico of tho Such book shall at all reasonable times be open to tho inspection of lanylalispcctoiy or.' any workman employed iiv thoi mine, or of any officer of the said union, who may tako copies of or' extracts from tho"rcports recorded therein. • PROTECTION OF FARMING LANDS. Wardens shall havejijojyor. when granting any license, either in respect of Crown or private lands, to imposo such conditionsj terms, or reservations as shall tend to obviate tho destruction of tho surface of pastoral or agricultural land tho subject of tho license. ,