MINERS AND THEIR WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14925, 24 February 1912, Page 9

MINERS AND THEIR WORK.

THE ROYAL COMMISSION'S REPORT. MANY RECOMMENDATIONS. [BT TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.) Wellington, Friday. The report of the Royal Commission on Mines was presented to Parliament this afternoon. It is lengthy and of a technical character. The Commissioners recommend for the better prevention of accidents that a Government inspector of mines should be required to pass an examination higher than that' of mi no manage'.'; that specified additional powers should be given to Government inspectors and workmen's inspectors; that a coal miner shall have, two years rind a-lialf experience- in hewing and timbering, and shall bo 21 years of a<*c before having charge of' a place : and that certain duties of inspection shall he compulsory on deputies and foremen. Regulations for the supply of ambulance appliances and instruction in first aid should be made. The court of inquiry into accidents should comprise the warden, with one mine manager and ono representative of the miners, as assessors under both the Coal Alines and the "Mining Acts. The board of examiners for mine managers and other officials should consist of one representative of the owners of mines, lying a mining engineer, one representative of the workmen, the inspecting engineer of mines, the director of geological surveys, and the Surveyor-General, both under the Mining and Coal Mines Acts. Improvements in underground sanitation are required, and change and bath houses should bo compulsorily provided for. The Commissioners recommend, for the prevention of miners' phthisis, the compulsory use of water Waste or other suitable appliances, and that no man shall return to a close place until the air is free from the dust, smoke, or fumes of blasting. As measures of relief they recommend thai miners suffering from phthisis should have the free medical advice of a Government expert, and that in addition to the homes and sanatoria already established, adequate relief should be provided from the gold miners' relief fund for those, suffering from miners' phthisis, which for that pnrposo shall be subsidised £1 for £1 by the Government. Qualifications for relief shall be five years' residence in Now Zealand, immediately prior to the application for relief; two years and a-half of which shall have been occupied in mining underground, or working at a crushing mill in New Zealand. I

The Commissioners finally suggest the offering of a bonus or premium for some process which will produce good briquettes or eggettes from New Zealand soft coals or slack, at a marketable price. There axe many other recommendations relating to the technicalities of ventilation, sanitation, explosives, and the utilisation cf bituminous coals. Tho report is signed by all the Commissioners. Messrs. Parry and Donogray also submit a minor report recommending the prohibition of the midnight shift, the abolition of the contract system, and the payment of workmen's inspectors. Mr. Cochrane concurs in the last-named proposal.