C.t-4.

36

MINORITY REPORT. Willie we agree in tne mam with most ox the conclusions arrived at by the Commission, we wisn to express our views upon severai important questions on wnien we are not in agreement witn tne majority of the Commissioners. one of tne most important questions wnicii tne Uommission nas been called upon to consider is that dealing witn tne prevention ox miners' pntnisis. While we tnniK tnat some of tne recommendations made oy tnis Commission, wnen carried into eiiect, will mitigate tne disease to some extent, we nave learned irom tne evidence and observation tnat tne two cmei contributory causes ox tnis maxady are tne contract system and tne nignt shut. in many instances, apart Irom tne cost in money, a great deal of time is wasted and numerous iives are iost in trying to deal eneetivexy witn certain evils without legislating to embrace tne most important contributory causes, and iience we find we are dealing witn tne enect instead ox witn tue cause. Aitnough tnis question oi tne contract system was mentioned in tne iindmgs of the liritisn Commission and recommended xor consideration, we are basing our conclusions in tnis report upon tne evidence gatnered ay tne present tonsmission, wnicn evidence undouutediy constitutes a strong indictment ox tne methods in vogue. Ail the witnesses on benaix ox tne workmen admitted before tne Commission that the contract work and night shut were responsible xor bad health and the major portion of tne accidents, notwithstanding tnat their earnings are a little larger under the contract system than unuer tne daywage system. Knowing, as the miner docs, tnat nis occupation is hazardous, dangerous, and unhealtny, in order to launch out in some otner avenue ox employment he endeavours to try and make a cneque, and taKes full advantage ox tne time spent underground to accomplish the object in view. Ine result is we hnd the men impatient; the pace, as a rule, is set by tne strongest man physically in tne contract party, and each member of tne party is expected to do tne same amount of worn:, and in the attempt the last particle ox energy is expended. JNot oniy is the '" rushing " a cause of serious accidents, but, as a consequence of the hard nature of the work and the vigour witn which it is sustained, the men themselves are frequently so tired that they spend the largest portion of their time in bed when out of the mine, which time should be devoted to exercise and health-seeking. When to fatigue is added severe strain the eriects may be lamentable, as, for example, the pushing of heavy trucks, each of which weighs from 1 ton to iss cwt., and the lifting of neavy machines, which ail tends to lower the vitality and wreck the constitution. The worn appearance of the men in those districts where these systems are in vogue is a practical exemplification of the loss of vitality. This was noticed by tne members of the Commission at Waihi, and in order to ascertain the state of the health and condition of the men in general they made a requisition to the Government to appoint a medical expert to join the Commission. We regret that the Government did not see tit to grant the request, for had this been done we feel sure the conclusions would have been more satisfactory. Dr. Conlon, in giving evidence before the Commission, said, " The contractors are the men who suffer most; the good miners always go under quicker." In answer to a question by the Chairman on the subject, he further stated that the more the men exerted themselves the more likely they were to get the disease, and that " the men who worked hard frequently go away from the district because their health is affected. A , man cannot work underground and extend himself as he can on the surface. If you look through a list of the men who have suffered from the disease you will find that they are the men who worked as contractors." Continuing his evidence, in reply to a Commissioner, he said that the work lowers a man's vitality, and he runs into places without waiting for the dust to settle, thus taking bigger risks; further, that the average age of men dying in the Reef ton district, during a period of twelve years and a half, would probably work out at fifty-five.