SAFETY IN MINES

Southland Times, Issue 19049, 19 September 1923, Page 6

SAFETY IN MINES

PENSIONS FOR OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES. (Special to the Times). WELINGTON, September 18. Several matters connected with the working of coal mines were among others submitted to the Minister of Mines to-day by the General Secretary of the New Zealand Coal Miners’ Federation, Mr P. O’Rourke. Mr O’Rourke submitted a tabulated list of eight requests, which included a request that inspectors should supply the unions with a copy of their re[xirts; that workers employed half a mile or more underground are to be conveyed to their working places; that telephone connections be installed in all mines; that mining inspectors reply to all questions put to them by the Unions in regard to the safety of any mine; that travelling roads have a dimension of 6ft Gin, by Git 6in; that only I'.ancibrakes be allowed on inclines, where more (han one person is engaged in running jugs; that a better lighting system oe provided, and that all working places ofe provided with oil-safety lamps foj- examination purposes. Mr O'Rourke also asked that lhe Min>ng Act be amended with regard to temperature, with a view of providing for the same temperature in the mines of each island, namely, 50 degrees wet bulb. He also asked that tunnel and quarry workers afflicted with miners’ phthisis, should receive the same benefits as miners suffering from the same disease. The Minister of Mines (Hon. G. J. Anderson) replied that consideration would be given to all the requests, with the exception of one request: that inspectors’ reports be supplied to the unions. That had been refused time and again, he said, and he saw no reason why it should be granted. The Government was going to consider the revision of the Pensions Act with regard to the Miners’ phthisis and occupational disease. The Minister told the deputation that it seemed to him that the Government would have to leave out occupational diseases as far as the Workers’ Compensation Act was concerned. It was a bigger question that would have to be dealt with when they were revising the Pensions Act. “Disabilities, brought on as a result of a particular occupation, really should come under the invalidity pension,” said the Minister. The Government were very anxious to do it, but they have not seen their way to do it, owing to financial reasons. “My late colleague, Sir William Herries, promised it, and it is not with any desire on our part that it has not been carried on. Financially, we could not do it. It will have to be decided on a contributary basis,” concluded Mr Anderson.