C—4.

50

[R. C. CHERRIE .

4. In what mines in New Zealand have you worked I—At Brunner, Wallsend, Tyneside, Hokonui, Kaitangata, Benhar, Mokau, Huntly, and the Northern Mine here. 5. What are you doing now ? —I am working on the coal. 6. Have you any certificates ? —I hold a second-class coal mine-manager's certificate. 7. How long ago did you obtain it ?—Over ten years ago. 8. What mine are you working in now % —The Northern. 9. Have you any other position apart from that of miner?—l am president of the union. 10. Are you a check inspector ? —No, I have not been a check inspector in this district. 11. Will you give the Commission a brief outline of your complaints I—We1 —We complain that the air is not properly conducted round the working-faces as required. The sanitation, also, is not what it ought to be. Then, the roads are very wet in the Northern Mine. Sometimes I have had to complain about insufficient timbering on the main roads. I also believe it would be an advantage to have change-houses. 12. How long have you been in this mine % —About three years. 13. There have been no fatalities since you have been there I —No, a few truckers hurt. 14. By trucking or by falls of coal ? —By trucking. 15. By reason of defective ways ?—No, I do not think so. 16. Too much uphill on the roads ? —Yes; there are some of the roads too steep, and there is too much strain. 17. Have you known any miners to be injured through falls from the roof or by their own carelessness ? —No, I only know of one man who got his back hurt, as has already been stated. I myself suffered an injury to my foot. 18. Mr. Dowgray.] Have you heard a complaint from the miners as to ventilation ? —I have coin plained myself to the manager and to his deputy about it. 19. You say there is general dissatisfaction in regard to the matters you have referred to ? —Yes. 20. How does this coal-mine compare with those others in which you have worked % —Very unfavourably. 21. There is a general dissatisfaction in regard to these wet roads : [do the truckers" work a sixhour shift ?•—No. 22. A wet road does not, then, constitute a wet place % —lt does sometimes, when flood-water comes in ; they then give a slight increase in wages for a day or two. 23. Do you know of any trucker who has been put to any disadvantage through refusing to work on a wet road ? —Yes, one trucker was fined in this Court £4 because he would not work on a wet road. 24. The By whom was lie tried \ —By Mr. Scott-Smith, S.M. 25. But that is not an answer to Mr. Dowgray's question : it is as to whether any one has suffered any inconvenience because he refused to work on a wet road ? —I cannot prove that there is any unfairness meted out to truckers who have refused to work under such conditions. 26. Mr. Dowgray.] You are aware that a fine has been inflicted during the last six months ?—Yes. 27. Has the ventilation been improved ? —No, I cannot say that there has been any difference. The only difference I could see was that the main roads were nice and cool. At my working-face 1 had occasion to complain to the manager, and he said he would put a cut through as soon as possible, but that was of very little benefit. 28. The Chairman.] Why ? —The air was not conducted to the face. 29. Mr. Parry.] Do you ever feel any ill effects from working in a hot place I—Yes,1 —Yes, I have worked in hot places in the Northern Mine on a six-hour shift, when they were opening out No. 6. I had to do two hours' trucking in the wet road, or maybe on the dry road, and then do six hours in that place. 30. What effect has it had on your health ?—I found that I could not eat my food and could not sleep the same as if the ventilation had been good. 31. The Chairman.] Do you know anything about actual temperatures or air-measurements there 1 — I have not taken any in the Northern Mine, nor have I seen any taken. 32. Mr. Parry.] As a man with a great deal of mining experience, what is the difference between working with a temperature of 82° dry on the surface and underground with the same temperature : where would you sooner work I —On the surface, to be sure. 33. What advantage do you think it would be to the miners to have proper change-houses and drying-apparatus ? —lt would be very beneficial to their health. They could bath when they come out of the mine overheated, and not have to walk home in their clothes saturated with perspiration. They would be much more comfortable walking home dry. 34. The Chairman.] Have you had experience where they have had baths I —They have never had any where I have been. 35. You do not call the hut a change-house ? —No, it is a shelter-shed. 36. Mr. Parry.] In regard to men living close to the mine, on the average the coal-miner has not many conveniences ?—No, as a rule, he has not. 37. In order to take that extra work off his wife's shoulders he would prefer to change before going home ?—Yes, I know I would. 38. What inconvenience are you put to in regard to sanitary appliances ?—You have got to go to the most convenient place —sometimes it is to the intake, and sometimes to the outlet. The smell, as a rule, is very offensive, especially if the air happens to reverse in the section. I have had occasion to draw Mr. Morgan's attention personally, and also that of his deputy, to the matter, and asked him to have a proper system installed, as they have at Huntly. He said he would warn the parties for the filth alongside the roads.