DREDGES AND MINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 13

DREDGES AND MINES.

THE SAFETY OF WORKERS. MINERS AND DOUBLE OUTLETS. [BY TELEGRAPH.--SPECiAJ.. REPORTER.] WELLINGTON. Friday. Masters of dredges which are working elsewhere than in deep ,or swift flowing Streams, and the proprietors of metal mines, are specially interested in the Mining Amendment Bill, introduced today by the Minister of Mines, Hon. Cx. J. Anderson. ' As the law now stands dredges, wnicn are working in deep or swift rivers must be under the control of qualified dredge masters and it is proposed in the bill to extend this requirement to all dredges. Many big gold dredges are now working ir> ponds and , while their masters will pot be required to undergo such a stnngant examination as those who propose taking charge of river dredges they wilt be subjected to such tests as will er sure that the machines are placed under tfie charge of responsible men. The provision of ;i second outlet to all metal mines is to be required. pie outlets must be at least a hundred feet apart and must be inter-communicating. Mines which provide employment for not more than twenty men in' one shift are to be exempted from the operation of this clause, which also will not apply to existing mines which have two outlets, but which are not 100 feet apart. It is provided, however, that in any future extensions of th<* mint 1 the outlets shall be set the full hundred feet apart.