DEPUTIES IN SMALL .MINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15834, 3 February 1915, Page 9

DEPUTIES IN SMALL .MINES.

PROVISIONS OF THE ACT.

TEST CASE AT WHANGAREI

[FIT TET.V.C.R.vrn.OWN roKßEsroxnEVT.]

Whangaret, Tuesday. Ay interesting coal mining point was raised at Whangarei to-day before Mr. E. Page. S.M., when Alfred Henry Taylor, manager of the New Zealand Coal and Cement Company's coal mine at Whangarei. was charged with failing to appoint one or more foremen or deputies. Inspector Bennie prosecuted, and Mr. Harrison defended. Defendant said there were six men employed underground and three on the surface. He (defendant) acted as deputy and under-viewer. examining the mine in the morning before the men went down. He had done so for nine months without objection being raised, and he did not consider it necessary that ho should have any assistance. Mr. Harrison said that it had not been customary to appoint a deputy in a mine where so few men were employed. The Act applied to all the mines in New Zealand, large and small, and he submitted that discretion was to be exercised. Technically, there seemed to be a duty on the manager to appoint a deputy, but the position was rather peculiar. He would like a ruling as to the proper thing to do in such a case. Inspector Bonnie contended that no discretion was intended. Section 22 stated that, "the manager shall appoint one or more competent persons to act as foremen and deputies."' Defendant could not a>t as a manager, who had to exercise general supervision on the surface, and as under-viewer in the mine. The magistrate said lie would present a written judgment respecting the employment of deputies and foremen in small mines.