NEW COAL MINES BILL.
IMPORTANT PROVISIONS.
PURCHASE OF VESSELS.
COMPULSION TO WORK MINES.
PROVISION OF ACCOMMODATION. [BY TELEGRAPH. —SPECIAL REPORTER.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The Coal Mines Amendment Bill, introduced in the House of Representatives today, provides that the Minister for Mines may call upon the owner or occupier of any coal-bearing lands to commence coalmining operations thereon within any specified time, being not less than six months, and to continue such operations on an adequate scale to the satisfaction of the Minister.
If the notice is not complied with and if the land is taken within two years for a public work, the compensation payable shall not exceed twice the value of the land as recorded in the valuation roll. The Bill further provides that the Minister for Mines may undertake prospecting operations on Crown or private land. The consent'of the owners or occupiers will be required in the case of private land. The Minister is empowered to purchase or hire vessels that may be required for the carriage of coal derived from State mines. These vessels will be used primarily for the carriage of coal, but may carry passengers and goods. An important clause provides that the Minister for Mines may require coal mine owners to provide accommodation lor miners and their families. The accommodation must be suitable in the opinion of the Minister and must be provided on such terms and conditions as the Minister may approve. Failure to comply with a notice under this section will render the mine owner liable to a fine of £50, with an additional £5 for each day during which the failure continues.
The Coal Mines Act, 1914, provided that a miner should not be put in charge of any place in a mine unless he was at least 21 years ) of age and had had at least three years' experience in underground coal mining, of which at least one year had been at the face with an experienced miner. This provision is now made subject to the proviso "except by consent of the Minister."
The Bill proposes a number of machinery amendments to the coal mine law.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17274, 25 September 1919, Page 6
Word Count
355NEW COAL MINES BILL. New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17274, 25 September 1919, Page 6
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