MINING BILLS

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 86, 8 October 1920, Page 7

MINING BILLS

NEW MEASURES DISCLOSED.

The Coal Mines Bill was read a first time in the House of Representatives yesterday. It consists of ten clauses, and contains no radical change in the existing legislation. Under the law as it stands to-day, there is no power for the renewal of a coal lease, a fact which has. proved, troublesome in the past in instances where short and long term leases are held together. The Bill empowers the Warden or Commissioner ,of Crown Lands, to renew leases from time to time, but not for more than 66 years in any case. Another clause deals with ventilation in mines, the object being to obtain a more reliable sample of the air lit mines for testing purposes. It is further provided that the owners may employ a gold miner of three years' experience and put him in charge of any place in a mine. Power ifi given to the Government to make direct grants or to pay subsidies.to suitable parties of co-opera-tive miners. • -

Practically all the provisions of the Mining Amendment Bill, also read a first time yesterday, ar& of s. technical nature^. The existing law in respect to tho granting of gold dealers' licenses has been found to b© defective, so the Bill enlarges the powers of the Minister of Mines in this connection. Supplementary powers are given to the Warden in exercising his jurisdiction in dealing witli mining partnerships, and the loan provisions of the 1908 Act are amended so as to assist financially mining companies. The Crown is given the option of taking over a mining privilege at the expiration of the term originally granted, subject to the paying of comnenuation. Another clause empowers the Court inquiring into accidents the right to order payments of costs by n. mine manager as an alternative to cancelling or suspending his certificate in the event of the accident being due to his negligence.