MAIN COAL BILL DELAYED: MINOR LEGISLATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 November 1947, Page 3

MAIN COAL BILL DELAYED: MINOR LEGISLATION

WELLINGTON, November 13. “Certain coal mine owners have been bombarding me with requests to buy their mines,” said the Minister of Mines (Mr A. McLagan) in the House of Representatives today, when he introduced the Coal Mines Amendment Bill. He was answering a question from the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland)' whether the Bill was the “long-heralded plan to socialise all collieries.” Mr McLagan. said that the legislation dealing with the big coal mines was delayed, but. this new measure might be described as the “Little Coal Mines Bill.” Mr Holland: That means then that private enterprise is allowed to last another year. The right, of a miner to proceed at common law with an action for damages after accepting workers’ compensation is safeguarded by clauses in both the Coal Mines Amendment Bill and the Mining Amendment Bill (which was introduced at the same time). Mr McLagan said it had always been held that a coal miner coqld accept compensation and still retain his right to proceed at common law. By a recent decision his right to proceed at common law was placed in grave doubt and the Bill now made the position quite clear. There was an identical clause in the Mining Amendment Bill.

Mr McLagan said the Coal Mines Amendment Bill gave the Government greater control in the issue of coal-mining leases. After issuing a prospecting licence the Government had no option but to grant a lease for a whole area, but provision was now being made for the granting of leases over parts of areas. The levy for the coal miners’ relief fund was also increased from Jd to Id a ton. The fund was going back and was now practically exhausted. Explaining the Mining Amendment Bill, Mr McLagan said that at present consent could be given to amalgamation of dredging claims if not more than one mile apart. Application had been made in respect of claims more than a mile apart but thgy could not be granted under the existing law. The Bill provided for an extension of the distance from one to 16 miles.