THE MINING LAW.

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 41

THE MINING LAW.

IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS. WELLINGTON, October - 18. n , The Mining Amendment Bill was reported by the 'Mines Committee to-day with amendments. The amendment which the bill proposed to be. made in the rules for the- protectioii of life in blasting operations has been, deleted, leaving the rules as they stand in the act of 1908 unamended. The committee has added eight new clauses, doubling the length .of the bill. Power is proposed to be given to any; warden to grant 'a license to take up a claim comprising land occupied by the holder of a water race license, com-' Eensation and other condition's to-be fixed y the warden. The right to appoint persons to inspect mines is- to be extended to all miners' unions, instead of being conditional, -as at present, upon, the union being registered under the Arbitration Act. Applications for advances for the development of mining are to be reported on by a board instead of the Government geologist as at present. The board is to consist of the director of the geological survey, the inspecting engineer of the Mines Department, the Inspector of Mines, and the warden for the district. Payments may be made from the gold miners' relief fund to miners suffering from pneumoconiosis. Payment to contractors- who do net sublet must be paid on the day it would be paid if it were ordinary wages.