MINES COMMISSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIIC, Issue 14285, 29 August 1910, Page 3

MINES COMMISSION.

OTIRA TUNNEL MENTIONED. • A deputation from the New Zealand ! federation of Labour waited upon the , Premier and the Hon. J. A. Millar last : Friday, to briii« under th notice of the M musters various matters appertaining to 1 nl22iiiand iiidu.rcrjal legislation. The deputation urged that legislation should be passed prohibiting contracting out ol : awards in any industry. t Mr Settle suggested that the Royal Commission to by .set up to inquire into the condition of miners .should he composed of two representatives from the .men, two irom the employers, and a med:eal man, and that tiio Commission should investigate the conditions of labour obtaining at the Otira tunnel. _vfr o'Regan pointed out tho injustice £ inflicted on workers, especially miners, | by the domicile clause in tho 'Workers' Compensation Act,' and advocated its repeal or modification. lie also pointed out that under the Act a man In ; receipt or over £5 weekly was exempt from the benefits, and suggested that exemption should only applv to men receiving £'2so a year, as * under the J-nglish. Act Mr Parry detailed a immhsr of resolutions carried by the Federation regarding sanitary conditions, and the working of mines. Several speakers emphasized the importance of a change of houses at the mines. G. in replying, said that the (government could not to" Mr initio's .suggestions, as to the personnel ol the Commission, nor did he think it wise that the Commission should investigate the conditions of labour at Ui-ira. It- would not be wise to mix up tJiis ,« ith the report of the Commission. J lie Government had to be careful in Jt;raid io the Olir;;, contract, otherwise 10 render the c-ountrv liable for damages. The matter would be looked MHO by the Minister of Mines. The Government would amend the Workers' Compensation Act in the direction fiu «- KesteU so as to substitute £250 a vear lor £o a week as the limit of liability under the Kepardnur the domicile clause he pointed out difficulties, owin" to the fact that there was no reeiproci+v as to compensation to relatives with i other countries except Vivtoriji. T«:o i + was towards reciprocity tnrougnout i:i:> h:np-rc. which would b',> a <tc;d tJi.i. The Government would endeavour to find a fair ba = is navniK m view people in and outside country. In regard to the various EP.riitpry and Jribnijr condition? aeiwpllj

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