G. FLETCHER.]

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25. Take the mechanics : would it have the same effect on them ?—No, it would not affect the mechanics. It would only affect those working underground. 26. Yes, but would not the mechanics be compelled to be only eight hours from bank to bank ? —Yes. If a mechanic had to go and do any work in „ mine—say there was work for three or four weeks—he would only go in as an ordinary miner to his work. 27. Would that reduce his hours of labour ? —Yes ; he would then come under the same heading as a miner. 28. Would the reduction of the hours of labour of the truckers to eight hours from bank to bank interfere with the getting-out of your coal ?—The reduction in the hours of truckers, fillers, drivers, and rope-road boys would be made with all at the same time. They would all be reduced. 29. Are you working now, when in full going-order, to the full capacity of your rope ?—We are. 30. If your rope was, therefore, stopped for half an hour, and during the hours the men were working they increased their output, could you take the stuff away from them ?—No, we could not. 31. So that if, as is claimed, in a shorter-time's work at the face, a miner could put out what he is putting out now in a longer time, could you take the stuff away from him ?—We could not. 32. Under your existing award, how long does a miner now work at the face in your mine ?—• All the workmen underground have to be at their places at 8 o'clock in the morning to commence work, and they cease at five minutes to 4. In that time there is half an hour for crib. 33. Is a miner at the face, coal-getting, seven hours and twenty-five minutes ?—Yes, seven hours twenty-five minutes. 34. If this Coal-mines Bill is passed, what will be the hours worked at the face then ?—Half an hour a day less than at present. 35. Six hours and fifty-five minutes?—lt would mean that the rope would be running six hours fifty-five minutes instead of seven hours twenty-five minutes. 36. The miners cannot work when the rope is not running?— No. 37. So that the miners could not work more than six hours and fifty-five minutes at the face ? —Certainly not. They could be in the face seven hours twenty-five minutes. 38. That includes crib-time ? —Exactly. 39. I mean, with crib-time taken off—the actual coal-hewing time?— Six hours fifty-five minutes. 40. What is your experience of the effect of his occupation upon a miner's health here in New Zealand ?—Miners are a healthy class of men. 41. Mortality is not greater amongst them than amongst others?— No. 42. Are they a strong, healthy lot as a rule ? —Yes. 43. Stronger than other men as a rule ?—As strong a class of men as you would meet with. 44. Do you work one shift,or more? —Two. 45. What would be the effect of the Bill on two shifts?—lt would reduce our output about 28,000 tons a year in the two shifts at the Millerton Mine. 46. What about the other mine ?—-About 14,000 tons. 47. Forty-two thousand tons altogether?— Yes. 48. Do you work mostly by piecework?—No, it is all day work, except the few coal-hewers. 49. How many ?—Thirty-six altogether. 50. How many on machines ? —I could not tell you exactly. 51. How are your machine-men paid?—A machine-man gets lis. a day. 52. He is a day-wages man ?—Yes; and the boys who cast the slack back average about 7s. a day. 53. They are on day wages too?— Yes. 54. So that the bulk of your work is done on day wages?— Yes. 55. If the time for working were shortened, as is suggested under this Bill, what do you think would be the effect upon the men's wages in the event of a case being taken to the Arbitration Court ? If the hours were as provided by the Bill, and the men went to the Court, what do you think the Court would say ? —I cannot say, lam sure. I know what there should be —a reduction of 5 or 6 per cent, in wages, to make up for the lost time. 56. With regard to the provision in the Bill as to the medical officer : do you know if there has been any real demand from the men for it ?—I have not heard a word about the doctor; I have not heard of a word being breathed as to dissatisfaction with the doctor. 57. Mr. R. McKenzie.] Are you speaking about Denniston or Millerton now?—l am speaking of both. 58. For how many years ?—The last twelve months. 59. Mr. J. Allen.] There is a clause in this Coal-mines Bill—clause 3—dealing with the Coalminers' Relief Fund. You pay now to the Coal-miners' Relief Fund, do you not ? —Yes, Jd. per ton. 60. Are there claims upon that fund now ? —Yes, a few claims. 61. Are these claims that are made upon you now out of the fund also made under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act ?—Yes. 62. The men claim under both ?—Yes. 63. And do they get paid under both ?—Yes. 64. The amount they are paid under the Coal-miners' Relief Fund is not deducted from the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Fund, is it ?—Oh, no. 65. The men are therefore paid the full amount they are entitled to under the Workers' Compensation for Accidents Act, and the full amount they are entitled to from the Jd. a ton ?—Yes. 66. Who pays the £d. a ton ? —The company. 3—l. 4a.