JOHN FOSTER.]

5

I.—4a.

of the Arbitration Court on the West Coast we had some thirty-three items down on our order-paper, and if we had got a full statement of affairs we should have only had three items, so you can see the vast difference it would make to us. I went to the Westport Coal Company and asked them to supply me with a full statement of what their men earned, and they refused to do so ; consequently, we were all in the dark. That is my reason for asking this, that we may facilitate business so that we can go before the Court and know what we are doing. 40. Are you aware that an ordinary pay-sheet contains more information than simply the payment of wages ?—I do not think it should. It is public property when a man gets his pay. 41. Yes, that is so, but I cannot understand why you cannot get the particulars of the pay-sheets from the men. Everything is given in full ?—Yes, but we cannot get them. 42. Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.] Would it cost the companies much if it were provided by law that they were to give a duplicate of the colliers' pay-sheets to you ?—I do not think so. 43. Would that get over the difficulty ?—Anything would do so long as we could get the true statement. What we are asking for is this, that the secretary of the union should be allowed to go and copy these things off the book. 44. There might be some objection about your overhauling the company's books, but there could be no objection to your getting a duplicate ?—That would suit. I think it is an important matter, because we could then get what we want before the Court correct. 45. Mr. J. Allen.] What do you say about fans : " 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." Why put in " workmen's inspectors " ? Is not the Inspector of Mines sufficient ?—I do not know. I find sometimes that the workman has to do more than the Inspector in this way, that we have no power at all under the present law. The present law says that we shall only report. 46. Do you want to get control of the mine ?—No ; but I have seen instances where we should have had control of the mines to get things done. 47. Have you no confidence in the Inspectors ?—I will not say that. 48. Can you not imagine a conflict between the two Inspectors ? Supposing one said that a fan was needed, and the other that it was not. Who is to decide ?—They would have to decide it between them. 49. Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.] If the workmen's Inspectors said that a fan was found to be necessary, and the Government Inspector said that it was not, a telegram should be sent to the Minister of Mines, and he should decide ?—Yes. It is my opinion that natural ventilation should not be allowed, and the condition of the Blackball Mine proves that, because since they have had a fan the mine is one of the best in the colony. 50. Mr. J. Allen.] You say that the " shift-boss " should have certain experience ?—Yes. 51. What I want to know is what you mean by " a thorough knowledge of ventilation " ? Does it not require a lot of scientific knowledge ?—We consider " thorough knowledge " to mean the ordinary practical knowledge of a workman. 52. Do you think the Inspector of Mines is a proper person to conduct that examination ?—We think so, but that is for the Department to say. 53. Do you think there would be uniformity if the Inspectors of the various districts conducted the examinations ?—That I cannot say. 54. What are the costs of the administration of the Coal-miners' Accident Fund ?—What we pay, I think, is £30 a year. That is conjointly with our own. 55. Do you not think that this fund is for those who are hurt and that it would be better to allow the fund to remain intact, and that the men themselves should do a little towards those who get sick ?— Well, we are here to represent the opinions of a body of our people, and they passed that resolution. All we ask is for 2|- per cent, of the money raised every year. 56. And take it away from the fund for those poor people who are hurt ?—We have to find all the provision for labour in connection with the fund. 57. Do you not think clause 14, in reference to check inspectors having power to have any practice or thing discontinued which they consider to be dangerous or injurious to the health of the workmen is an interference with the management of the mine ?—No, Ido not think so. 58. But it is a question of decision ?—lf I went into a mine under the present system, and saw a place which was going to fall in, I could not say " Take these men out of this place." I have no power to do it, nor have I the power to order the men out if the air is bad. 59. Do you think a check inspector should have power to decide without consulting the minemanager ?—This is only a suggestion, and I quite agree that the manager and Inspector should consult on such matters. 60. Who is to decide whether a place is likely to be dangerous or injurious to the health of the men the check inspector or the mine-manager ?—I say the two should decide. 61. Is the mine-manager to give up his functions as mine-manager ?—I should not think so. I would not ask for that. I think that if I suggested a certain thing and the manager would not meet me, and an accident happened after that, the mine-manager should be hanged. 62. Now with regard to the hours of labour : you told us of the decision of the Arbitration Court on the West Coast. Can you give us the reasons that led the Court so to decide I—l can give you no reasons why the Court did not decide. 63. Did the Court give any reasons ?—lt gave a lot of reasons, but they were not reasons to our mind. 64. What were they ?—I do not remember. You can find them in the Labour Journal.