I.—4a

MINUTES OF EVIDENCE.

Thursday, 17th August, 1905. The Chairman: I have some suggestions before me which have been presented by the Miners' Union through Mr. Betts, their secretary, and I understand that certain gentlemen are here to give evidence upon them. The following are the suggestions : — Suggestions by Miners' Representatives in Connection with the Goal-mines Act Amendment Bill. 1. That after the word " Inspector " in the third line of clause 3 the words " and workmen's Inspectors " be inserted. 2. The workmen's inspectors to be permitted to visit the scene of an accident immediately an accident occurs. 3. That in section 7, reference to payment of wages within a limit of two miles be struck out, and that where the Workers' Union, or a majority of workmen employed at the mine, so desires, payment of wages shall be made at the mine mouth. 4. That provision be made for the supply of the best explosives at cost price from the mineowner, and that no explosive be permitted to be used in any mine unless the Inspector of Explosives has certified that it is the best from a health point of view that can be procured in the market. 5. That payment under the Coal-Miners' Accident Belief Fund be made for deaths through sickness as well as through accident, and that the fund be consolidated and converted into a Colonial Fund for the benefit of all coal-miners. 6. That provision be made for a Superannuation Fund for the benefit of all coal-miners. 7. That Miners' Unions be empowered to take extracts from time-books and wages-sheets and books. 8. That in all mines where safety-lamps are used it be made compulsory for mine-owners to provide a proper gas-tester to enable the miner to test his lamp before entering the mine. 9. That fans be at all times used where artificial ventilation is, in the opinion of the Inspector of Mines or the workmen's inspectors, required. 10. That before any person can take the position of shift-boss, fireman, or deputy in a mine, he shall have had at least five years' practical experience as a miner, and shall pass an examination by the Inspector of Mines on gases before he is allowed to carry a closed lamp to detect gas, and shall have a thorough knowledge of ventilation and timbering. 11. That all Sunday work in or about a coal-mine be paid for at the rate of double ordinary time, and that overtime be paid for at the rate of time and a quarter. 12. That 2J per cent, be allowed from the Coal-Miners' Accident Relief Fund for the purpose of management. 13. That the check-inspectors be paid by the Mines Department whilst employed inspecting the mine. 14. That power be given to check-inspectors to have any practice or thing discontinued or done which they consider to be dangerous or injurious to the health of the workmen employed in or about a mine. 15. That the hours of labour in mince be not more than eight hours from surface to surface in any one shift. 16. That in any section of a mine where inflammable gas exists no naked lights shall be used, and, where the various sections of a mine where inflammable gas is found are connected one with the other by workings of any description, safety lamps shall be used throughout the mine. John Foster examined. (No. 1.) 1. The Chairman.} You are president of the Miners' Union at Denniston ?—Yes. 2. You have read the Bill which is now before this Committee—the Coal-mines Act Amendment Bill—and are here now to give evidence upon it ?—Yes. As far as the Bill is concerned we quite agree with it, with the exception of clauses 6 and 7. We want provision made that the men's inspectors shall have the same notice of an accident given to them as the Inspectors of Mines or the Minister of Mines— that is, with reference to clause 6—and, except for that, we think the Bill is a very good one. With regard to clause 7, which provides for the payment of wages either at the mine or at some place not more than two miles from the mine, we think that is out of all reason, and that the two miles should be struck out, with a view of providing that the wages shall be paid at the mine-mouth or at some reasonable distance from it, because two miles is a very long way for men to have to walk to get paid. I might say that we would be quite willing to compromise on this point, say by a provision that it shall not be more than half a mile from the mine-mouth. We have nothing more to complain about in other parts of the Bill, and consider it is very fair and that it would be beneficial to all concerned. 3. With respect to the suggestions you have sent in. Have you anything to say with regard to No. 4 ?—We think that suggestion No. 4 should be carried out in any mine, and that the|employer should supply the very best explosives possible. 4. Mr. R. McKenzie.] Who is going to be the judge of the quality of the explosive ?—I expect the Government Inspector would be the judge. I—l. 4a.