I.—4a,

14

[HENRY BETTS.

those which he considered to be the most effective and the best from a health point of is a lot of these new explosives used in the mines that are very injurious to the health of the workmen compared with other explosives, and mine-owners should not be allowed to use any class of explosives they think proper, because the miners are entitled to consideration. 28. If you got a list of explosives which were proved to be the best put into a schedule by Act of Parliament, would you bar any other explosive from being used in a mine ?—lf the Inspector of Explosives said he was satisfied that any new explosive should go upon the list, certainly it should be put there. We do not want to be deprived of any new explosive that might come into use, so long as it is not injurious to the health of the workers. 29. You would approve of new explosives, but they must be good ?—Certainly. 30. Mr. Hemes.] Can you speak for the North Island ?—To a certain extent I can 31. Are they in accord with you ?—Yes, I think so. 32. You are in communication with them ? —Yes. The Coal-miners' Unions in the North Island have agreed —all of them—to join the Miners' Federation that we propose to bring into existence in this colony. 33. They have seen these proposals ?—No; I have not sent them on to them. 34. You do not know whether they would agree to them ?—I am certain they would agree to all of them. 35. With regard to Government Inspectors, you referred to both coal and gold I—Yes.1 —Yes. 36. You say that their visits are very infrequent ?—Yes. 37. How long has a mine been without a visit from the Government Inspector ? —lt has been as long as three months. 38. Is that a common thing ?—I will not say it is a common thing, but it has occurred. 39. Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.] From what period—how long back ?—lt is a few months ago. In fact, Mr. Tennent, the Inspector of Mines, has not visited some of the quartz-mines in Reefton for six months. 40. If more Government Inspectors were appointed would it do away with the necessity for having workmen's inspectors ?—No, Ido not think so. Under no consideration should the workmen's inspectors be done away with. 41. If the Government appointed more Inspectors of their own, would that not do away with the men's inspectors ?—I do not think there would be any necessity for Government to appoint any more permanent Government Inspectors, provided they gave the workmen's inspectors more power. 42. Supposing the men's inspectors were receiving Government pay would they not become responsible to the Government instead of to the men ?—They should be responsible to both. 43. Would that be compatible ? —I think it is right and proper, if the Government pay these men, that they should be responsible people. 44. You are quite satisfied that a mine should not be inspected once in three months ?—No, I am not, but Ido think there is no necessity for appointing any more Government Inspectors. The present Inspector should make more inspections. 45. You consider it is not because they cannot make the visits in the time, it is simply that they will not ?—They simply will not. Ido not know what other business they have to do outside the mines. 46. Do you know anything about the State coal-mines ?—No. 47. Is any one of the witnesses authorised to speak for the State coal-mines ?—I do not think any of the witnesses here are working in the State coal-mines, but some of them can certainly speak with regard to them. 48. Do the State coal-miners desire to come under the Arbitration Act ?—Certainly they do ; we are going to wait upon the Premier in that connection. We think it is only right ~nd proper that the State should be put in the same position as the private employer. It is the desire of the employees' organizations in connection with the State mines to come under the provisions of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act. They are, of course, affiliated with us as a Trades and Labour Council on the West Coast, and we know that that is their desire—that the Government should be placed in the same position as the private employers in that respect. 49. Mr. Smith.] With regard to the overtime not being fixed, is there any overtime being worked down in your district ? —I might say that through the Arbitration Court refusing to do its duty the men are kept underground as long as nine hours, and are not paid for the. hour over eight hours, or any portion of the time over the eight hours. They are not paid anything over the ordinary day's wages. 50. I want to know whether they are working any overtime down there ? —Yes; I term it " overtime " —any time over eight hours from bank to bank. 51. What are they paid for that ?—They are paid nothing at all. 52. Are there any men working in your district and getting paid for overtime ? —There are occasions where men are employed outside the ordinary time doing work in the shifts, they are paid extra for that. In some instances they get paid as much as double time for that work, and I know several instances where they get time and a half. 53. Right Hon. R. J. Seddon.] What are you ?—By occupation ? 54. Yes ? —Secretary of the Inangahua Miners' Union and permanent secretary of the Trades and Labour Council. 55. You are not following any occupation as a miner, or as a settler, or anything else ?—That is at present my occupation. My last position was that of a miner and the men took me from that position to put me in my present position. lam a settler too. 56. You were a miner—what class of miner I—l have done coal-mining, but only odd shifts. I was a quartz-miner.