C.—4.

be sufficient for the safety of the persons employed underground : Provided also that this provision shall not be construed as preventing mechanical contrivances for ventilation being placed underground when such contrivances afford a complete additional system of ventilation, and when a complete ventilating appliance is provided on the surface capable of producing adequate ventilation for the mine and immediately available for use in the event of accident, and is kept in an effective condition and is used once at least in each week. (4.) That power be given the Inspector to require that all mechanical ventilation appliances be run constantly, or for such time as he thinks necessary, in all cases where he considers the condition of the mines requires it; and in all cases that such ventilation appliances be started and continuously run to their usual run-ning-capacity for two hours before men start work in the mine. (5.) That no fire or furnace shall be placed underground in any new mine or seam hereafter. (6.) That the Coal-mines Act, 1908, section 40 (45), be amended to read as follows : — If at any time it is found by the person for the time being in charge of the mine or any part thereof that, by reason of the prevalence of inflammable or noxious gases, or of any cause whatever, the mine or any place in the mine is dangerous, every workman shall be withdrawn from the mine or place found dangerous, and a fireman or deputy, or other competent person authorized by the manager or under-manager for the purpose, shall inspect the mine or place found dangerous, and, if the danger arises from inflammable gas, shall inspect the mine or place with a locked safety-lamp, and in every case shall make a full and accurate report of the condition of the mine or place; and a workman shall not, except in so far as is necessary for inquiring into the cause of danger, or for the removal thereof, or for exploration, be readmitted into the mine or place found dangerous until the same is reported by the fireman or deputy not to be dangerous. For the purposes of this section a place shall be deemed to be dangerous if the percentage of inflammable gas in the general body of the air in that place is found to be two and a half or upwards, or, if situate in a part of .a mine worked with naked lights, one and one-quarter or upwards. Every such report shall be recorded in a separate book, which shall be kept at the mine for the purpose, and shall be signed by the person who made the inspection. If a workman discovers the presence of inflammable gas in his workingplace he shall immediately withdraw therefrom and inform the fireman or deputy. 111. THE UNDERGROUND SANITATION OF MINES. In the course of our investigations we found the mines, with one or two exceptions, in a very unsatisfactory condition in regard to sanitary matters. Only one coal-mine had made any attempt to provide sanitary arrangements underground. The medical evidence is strongly in favour of such being provided to ensure the health of the miners. In regard to metal-mines we have the honour to make the following recommendations : — (1.) That suitable and sufficient latrines be provided underground in all mines not already sufficiently supplied with the same. (2.) That a reasonable number of latrines should be provided on the surface at or near the entrance of the mine, but not in the line of the intake airway. (3.) That underground latrines should be placed in such a position as to prevent, as far as possible, the effluvia from mingling with the intake air, preferably in a return airway or with a current leading directly to a return airway. (4.) That the floors should be cemented to prevent soakage, and so sloped as to run into a pit or receptacle containing sawdust, which should be emptied daily. (5.) That iron pans; having close-fitting lids which can be clamped to prevent spillage, should be used.

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