THE MINERS' DISEASE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10041, 8 January 1909, Page 4

THE MINERS' DISEASE.

(Pes Pbess Association.)

Dunedin, January 7. Nothing serious has eventuated locally in connection with the new Compensation ' Act. The coal mine owners will hold a meeting to-morrow to decide oh the course of action regarding; the medical examination of the men. ' The employers, for their own sake, are in favor of insisting on medical examination, but they recognise that such a course would precipitate trouble among the men. It seems not unlikely that the Otagb employers will decide not to ask for medical examination, but to accept the risk in the hope fiat Parliament will amend the new law.

Inquiries show that the painters <To Siot regard the position seriously. Mr Gillie;, president of the Master Painters' Association, saye he has known ol only one case of lead poisoning in 28 years, and he docs not think the insurance companies are justified in asking for medical examination or for an increase in rates.

Wellington, January 7. A lengthy telegram dealing with the difficulty which has arisen on the West> Coast and elsewhere, owing to the employers' insistence of a medical examination of miners, was sent by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) to-day to Mr B. Semple, president of the New Zealand Miners' Federation. Sir Joseph suggests that the miners should submit themselves to a medical examination by Government medical officers, which would be without cost, for pneumoniconiosis alone, and he details the position taken up by the Government Insurance Department in relation to the risk described in clause 10 of the Workers' Compensation Act. The telegram reads: "R. Semple, Esq., President of the Miners' Federation! Reefton. —The Government has obtained legal advice upon the points of law, and since the receipt of the same the whole matter has been reconsidered by the Government Accident Insurance Department. The Department reports that it is unable to accept the unknown responsibility involved in the proposal to insure miners without medital examination. _ Second, the Government Accident Insurance Department points out that a preliminary medical examination effectually avoids all trouble, and that the miner who gets a clean bill of health establishes, ipso facto-, his claim to compensation within the statutorylimits in the event of his being subsequently incapacitated. The Department also directs attention to the fact that it is quite impossible at the present time for miners ia any part of the world to get their lives insured for £SOO (five hundred pounds) at death, the benefit provided under the workers' compensation Jaw (without madic.-U examination to sec whether they are free from phthisis or any other disease), and that a similar course is necessary in the case of appli- ! cations to join friendly societiesi and further, there is no more of indignity in miners being asked to submit themselves to medical- examination than in the cases referred to. Third, I would suggest) for the consideration of the miners, that they agree to medical examination, prpvided it is carried ont by the Government medical officers, such medical examination to be for pneumoniconiosis only. Fourth, the only other course that suggests itself is that pneumoniconiosis should te struck out of the legislation altogether at the next meting of Parliament. Fifth, steps are being taken to have the interpretation of clause 10 defined by the Supreme Court under the Declaratory Judgments Act of last session, and on receipt of this matter will be further considered in order to meet the position, if the judgment given enables the Government to do so.—J. G. Wabd."

The Times understands that the steps to obtain an interpretation of the law have already been put in h&nti, and that a hearing of the Labor Department's application for an interpretation, of clause 10 is likely to take place within a few days. The Wellington Trades and Labor Council to-night passed a resolution, endorsing the action of the Miners' Federation in refusing to submit to medical examination, and assuring the miners of their moral arid financial support.

Protests against the drafting of police to Reefton in connection with the mining difficulty were forwarded to the Prime Minister) through the Hon. A. R. Guinness. Sir Joseph Ward, after inquiries, forwarded the following answ*r: "In reference to your telegram Te suggested massing of police constables at Reefton, I find, npon inquiry from the Justice Department, that this is not correct. You state that sixteen constables are proceeding to Reefton. I am advised by the Department that seven constables were, at the request of the mine owners, told off for special duty at the batteries, namely, one to each, and that the same number of constables, namely, seven, weTe sent to replace.those thus removed from their ordinary duties. This is a matter of the ordinary administration of the police. It is not directed by the Minister in charge or by the Government, and there is no reflection either directly or indirectly upon the miners, from whom I also entertain, the highest opinion, and would not be a party to reflecting upon them in any way." Waihi, January 7. Pumping operations at the Waihi mine are suspended owing to the shortage of coal. The suspension does not affect the ■general work in the mine, and the batteries continue to crush as usual.