MINES COMMISSION

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7870, 4 August 1911, Page 1

MINES COMMISSION

PRELIMINARY SITTING. The Mines Commission held Its first sitting- in tlio jury room .of the Supremo Court, Wellington, yesterday. The commission comprises: Messrs J. S. Evans, S.iiX. and Warden, Kelson (chairman), Neil Duudonald Cochrane, Dunedin, mining engineer; John Dowgray, Granity, miner; George Fletcher, Granity, mine-manager;; Herbert Scott Molincaux, Bare wood, minemanager; William Edward Parry, Waihi, miner; and Frank Reed, Wellington, Inspecting Engineer of Mines. Mr P. J. Galvin is secretary to tho commission. The edimnisa-ion is to inquire and report generally as to—(1) The prevention of accidents in mines; (2) tho .ventilation of mines; (3) the underground sanitation of mines; (4) change and bath houses for miners; and.. more particularly as to (a; what .steps could be taken lor the better prevention of accidents, particularly those -jpem tho use and firing of explosives, falls from roof and side, also accidents in shafts and from machinery; and whether any improvement can bo made in the present system of investigation and inquiry into accidents: (b) whether any, and if so what, steps should be taken to lay down an improved standard, of ventilation in mines; fc) what steps should be taken to guard against the disease known as miners' phthisis; (d) * whether ■ any, and if so what, fresh legislation is necessary to give effect to your recommendations. After the chairman had read the commission Mr Reed said the first thing they should do was to consider their programme and the course they should adopt for carrying out tho investigations. It was verv cold in the southern portions of New Zealand at this time of the year, and tho accommodation to bo obtained was not first class. He suggested that the commission should proceed to tho extreme north of the Dominion first and work south, without going over the same ground twice. The Government should be asked to place tho inspectors of mines at the disposal of | tho commission in the various districts in which evidence would be taken, so that at tho completion of the .examination csf witnesses the Inspectors could be placed in the box lo give tneir version of the'case. At this stage tho secretary informed the chairman that press were present. It would be necessary foe him to 1 «ay whether they should be permitted to remain. The chairman said the proceedings would be more or Jess of interest to the public, and personally ho thought the commission should be open to-the press as far as the; public inquiry was concerned. i Mr Parry said it would be as well to i have a resolution. He undersotod Mr Bead objected to the proceedings being onen to the press. Mr Fletcher moved that the press -l>c excluded during the whole of the inquiry. This was seconded by Mr Doweray. Mr Reed 1 said it would be superfluous to have the press present seeing that the commission had its own stenographer. Some persons would merely talk to the gallery. . Tho resolution was carried unanimously. Only -preliminary arrangements were discussed by tho commission. It was decided to inspect mines, and take evidence in the North Island first, probably in tho districts