COAL MINING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17269, 19 September 1919, Page 4

COAL MINING

Sir, —I noticed in a late issue of the Herald that a correspondent wrote strongly upon the unhealthy life of the miners, and the fearful effects of miner.-' phthisis. I have looked up the Board of Trade's report recently issued, and find these assertions are not confirmed. for jt is stated that coal workers show •' a low proportionate death-rate from pulrnonarv tuberculosis or consumption of the iunrs. and this relative freedom has proved v] be the resultant of occupational conditions which in some manner protect coal miners from the fatal consequence of tuberculous infection." Probably the correspondent was referring to the gold miner, but he didn't make that clear. Then the re-oort further states, " That the occupation of coal mining is neither relatively nor ah solutely unhealthy as compared with otltf-i means of gaining a livelihood. It has itspecial inconveniences and hardships. a:,rj is exposed to special dangers from ac, i dents, bui these can be, and are in NewZealand, reduced to small proportions Improper care, appliances, and legal restrictions. There is no doubt that in regard to health the New Zealand cos! miner is in a superior position to that of miners in any other country, and is at least a? favourably placed as the great bodv of industrial workers in the Dominion." S-, the representations as to the renditionunder which the miners work hem:: unhealthy, and the prevalence of miners' phthisis amongst coal miner.", is incorrect. Observer.