GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. Geo. C. BLACK, Chairman.)

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1929 Session I, I-04

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1929. NEW ZEALAND.

GOLDFIELDS AND MINES COMMITTEE (REPORTS OF THE). (Mr. Geo. C. BLACK, Chairman.)

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be -printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 2nd Day of August, 1929. Ordered, "That a Select Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to whom shall be referred all matters relating to mining and all Bills relating to mining ; with power to call for persons and papers ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Black, Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Hawke, Mr. H. E. Holland, Mr. Martin, Mr. Munns, Mr. Samuel, the Hon. Mr. Veitch, and Mr. Waite. —(Hon. Mr. Taverner, for the Hon. Mr. Veitch.) Thursday, the 15th Day of August, 1929. Ordered, " That all petitions not finally dealt with during the sessions of 1928 be again referred to the same Committee that they were referred to during the said sessions. Memorandum for the Chairman of the Goldfields and Mines Committee. " Paper No. 42 C (amended regulations under the Mining Act, 1926), having been laid upon the Table of the House on the 16th July, 1929, stands referred to the Goldfields and Mines Committee." Wednesday, the 11th Day of September, 1929. Ordered, " That the petition of the Inanga-hua Miners' Union be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Mr. Black.) Wednesday, the 18th Day of September, 1929. Ordered, " That the petitions of W. L. Davies, P. McLoughlin, R. Thorburn, and W. Vosper be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Mr. Samuel.) Thursday, the 19th Day of September, 1929. Ordered, " That the petitions of J. Hay ward and N. Mudgway be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."—(Mr. Samuel.) Tuesday, the 24th Day of September, 1929. Ordered, " That the petitions of Louisa P. Brown and Ethel M. Ashby be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee." —(Mr. Samuel.) Friday, the 25th Day of October, 1929. Ordered, " That the petition of Anne Rasmusson be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."— (Mr. H. E. Holland.) Thursday, the 31st Day of October, 1929. Ordered, " That the petition of Kate Odium be referred direct to the Goldfields and Mines Committee."'— (Mr. Samuel.)

INDEX.

No. Subject-matter Page, j 339 Ashby, Ethel Margaret .. .. 3 340 Brown, Louisa P. .. . . .. 3 331 Davies, W. L. .. .. .. 3 327 Dillon, R. J. T., and 66 others . . .. 2 Final report .. .. . . .. 4 338 Hay ward, John .. .. .. 3 310 Inangahua Miners' Union .. .. 2 333 McLoughlin, Patrick .. .. .. 3 337 Mudgway, Neville H. .. .. .. 3 134 Murray, George Anderson .. .. 2

No. Subject-matter. Page 407 Odium, Kate .. .. .. 3 34 O'Donnell, W. .. .. .. 2 401 Rasmusson, Anne .. .. .. 3 Regulations amended under the Mining 4 Act, 1926 (paper No. 42 C) 252 Ross, Richard, and 7 others .. .. 2 Special report re services of Chairman . . 4 Special report re services of Clerk .. 4 69 Taylor, Harold Victor .. .. 2 332 Thorburn, Robert .. .. .. 3 334 Vosper, William .. .. .. 3 68 Wilson, Hannah, and 46 others.. .. 2

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REPORTS. No. 252.—Petition of Richard Ross and 7 Others, of Thames Goldfields. Praying for compensation for loss sustained on gold and silver sold to the Bank of New Zealand during the war period. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. The Committee desires to point out that during the War years no other industry was so hard hit as gold-mining, the commodity being, in the interests of the Empire and at the request of the Imperial Government, prohibited from export, with the result that a loss, based upon the world market price, of fully £1 per ounce was sustained by gold-miners. Furthermore, the Committee desires to point out that scheelite-miners were permitted by the Imperial authorities to export scheelite during the same period, 11th September, 1929.

No. 68. —Petition of Hannah Wilson and 46 Others. Praying that the balance of the Kaitangata Relief Fund be distributed. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a strong recommendation that the law be amended to empower the Hon. the Minister of Mines to grant assistance to necessitous dependants of the miners who lost their lives in the Kaitangata disaster. 7th October, 1929.

No. 327.—Petition of R. J. T. Dillon and 66 Others, of Collingwood. Praying that steps be taken to have the Mount Burnett coal lease at Collingwood worked forthwith. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the Government should be urged to insist upon the output conditions of the coal leases being complied with as far as practicable. 7th October, 1929.

No. 34. —Petition of W. O'Donnell, of Auckland. Praying that he be granted a miner's pension, notwithstanding his absence from New Zealand during portion of the period necessary to qualify. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. 69.—Petition of Harold Victor Taylor, of Church Street, Devonport, Auckland. Praying for a miner's pension or compassionate allowance. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. 13-I.—Petition of George Anderson Murray, of 62 First Avenue, Kingsland, Auckland. Praying that he be granted a miner's pension. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. 310.—Petition of the Inangahua Miners' Union, of Reefton. Praying for compassionate allowance in lieu of miner's pension for W. Mitchell, and for amendment of the miner's phthisis pension law. I am directed to report that the Goldfields and Mines Committee has heard evidence on and carefully considered the above-mentioned petition, and recommends that it be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. The Committee is of opinion that the existing miner's phthisis pension of £1 15s. per week in the case of a married man or a widower with children under fourteen years of age, and of £1 ss. per week in the case of an unmarried man, is inadequate, and recommends that it be increased. The Committee further recommends to the Government that the existing legislation be reviewed to provide for the removal of the anomalies disclosed in the evidence tendered in support of the above-mentioned petition. The Committee also recommends that the Government investigate the question of annual X-ray examination with a view to further safeguarding the health and lives of those engaged in the mining industry in New Zealand. The minutes of evidence taken on the above-mentioned petition are attached hereto. 6th November, 1929. [Note. —Minutes of evidence laid on the Table and ordered to be printed—vide 1.-4 a.]

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No. 331. —Petition of W. L. Davies, of Waihi. Praying that he be granted a miner's pension or compensation. I have the honour to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. 332. —Petition of Robert Thorburn, of Waihi. Praying that he be granted a miner's pension or compensation. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. 333.—Petition of Patrick McLoughlin, of Waihi. Praying that he be granted a miner's pension or compensation. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. 334.—Petition of William Vosper, of Waihi. Praying that he be granted a miner's pension or compensation. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. 337.—Petition of Neville H. Mudgway, of Waihi. Praying that he be granted a miner's pension or compensation. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. 338. —Petition of John Hayward, of Waihi. Praying that he be granted a miner's pension or compensation. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. 339.—Petition of Ethel Margaret Ashby, of Waihi. Praying that a miner's widow's pension or allowance be granted. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. 340.—Petition of Louisa P. Brown, of Waihi. Praying that a compassionate allowance be granted to her owing to being ineligible for a miner's widow's pension. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. 401. —Petition of Anne Rasmusson, of Westport. Praying for the granting of a miner's widow's pension. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

No. -107. —Petition of Kate Odlum, of McLaren's Falls, Tauranga. Praying for compassionate allowance owing to being unable to claim the miner's widow's pension. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee the petition should be referred to the Government for most favourable consideration. 6th November, 1929.

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Report on Parliamentary Paper No. 42 C (Amended Regulations under the Mining Act, 1926). I have the honour to report that the Goldfields and Mines Committee, to which was referred the above-mentioned parliamentary paper, has carefully considered and approved of the same. 6th November, 1929.

Special Report. I am directed to report that the members of the Goldfields and Mines Committee desire to place on record their appreciation of the ability and attention shown by the Chairman, Mr. George C. Black, in his management of the business of the Committee during the session. It is further desired that the resolution be recorded in the minutes of the Committee and reported to the House. 6th November, 1929. H. E. Holland, Member of the Committee.

Special Report. I have the honour to report that the members of the Goldfields and Mines Committee desire to commend Mr. H. K. Hawken, Clerk of the Committee, on the manner in which he has this session carried out his duties. The Committee recommend the Government to confer with the Hon. Mr. Speaker with a view to recess employment being found for the sessional Committee Clerks. It is further desired that this resolution be recorded in the minutes of the Committee and also be reported to the House. 6th November, 1929.

Final Report. I have the honour to report that the Goldfields and Mines Committee, consisting of ten members, has during the session held seven meetings, with an average attendance at each meeting of six members. Parliamentary paper No. 42 C, " Amended Regulations under the Mining Act, 1926," was referred to the Committee, and the same was carefully considered and reported upon to the House. Seventeen petitions were also referred to the Committee, all of which were finally dealt with and reported upon to the House as follows : Most favourable consideration, 13 ; favourable consideration, 4. 6th November, 1929. Geo. C. Black, Chairman.

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