B. BENNIE.J

213

C—4.

94. To what do you attribute this neglect on the part of the men to take sufficient interest in their own welfare ? —To carelessness. 95. Do you think it is the result of fear or intimidation?— Not at the present time. The managers and the men are fairly friendly. 96. As regards testing the cages, the safety-catch, the overwinding hook, and the rope, what do you insist on?—On a new cage being installed at a mine it is the duty of the Inspector of Mines to test that cage, and to give a written certificate to the manager before it is used, after testing it for automatic grips and making a thorough examination. It is the duty of all managers to test these appliances under section 254 of the Mining Act (44), and enter the result of their examinations in a book, which is open for inspectfon by the Inspector. 97. Do you see that that is done to the best of your ability? —I have seen it done on several occasions; on some occasions I have ordered examinations to be made when I have been there. 98. Is it possible that these tests are not made as required by law? —It is possible that they are not done regularly, but I believe that they are done periodically. 99. Do you insist upon the Act being carried out to the best of your ability?—l do. 100. Since you became Inspector has the number of mechanical ventilators been considerably increased in your district? —Yes; there was one put up at the Saxon, Waitangi, Watchman, Occidental, and New Sylvia Mines. 101. In a very large mine, what would be the number of electric batteries necessary if electric firing only were permitted ?—lt would mean that every party of men would require one. 102. Take the Denniston Colliery, for instance : how many would be required there, do you think? —The only practical system would be to appoint shot-firers, and give them the electric firing over a section each of, say, six or ten places. 103. Mr. Parry.] In gold-mines, too? —Yes. 104. Mr. Seed.} What would they cost? —Each battery would cost fully £20. 105. Would a large mine require very many?— The proportion would be about one battery for every ten men employed. 106. So that in the Waihi Mine, say, with five hundred men employed, they would require fifty batteries? —They might not require quite so many at Waihi as in a coal-mine. 107. And would they not require to employ skilled electricians to keep these delicate instruments in order? —They would require probably about two electricians at Waihi, and the others would only require to be handy men. 108. As regards the height of stopes, Mr. Bennie, you stated that the present statute does not give you power to take action in case of the stopes being too high?—No, I said that the 1910 amendment proposed to do so, but the provision was cut out. 109. If you turn up the Act you will find that subsection (11) of section 254 provides that " every excavation of any kind in connection with a mine shall be securely protected and made safe for persons employed therein "; and failure to comply with that section is an offence, is it not? The Chairman: Ido not think that would cover the height of stopes. Mr. Reed: Well, sir, the Government has taken action under section 261, which provides that in any case where an Inspector finds any mine or any part thereof, or any practice in or connected therewith unsafe, he can report it and take action. The Chairman: Yes, the word " practice " there would cover the height of stopes, I think. 110. Mr. Feed.] Mr. Bennie, in connection with regulating the height for stopes, would that be determined by the holding nature of the rock or back? —Yes, certainly; but I have always insisted upon their being not higher than 8 ft. That would be safe, because the men could reach it. I remember one occasion while I was Assistant Inspector at Waihi two men were driving a place about 13 ft. high, and I objected. The manager ordered them not to fire the hole, but they did so, and the manager threatened to discharge them, but I persuaded him instead to give them three days off work. , 111. What is your opinion of the idea to put a fourth compartment in the shaft for ventilating purposes? —I would rather have a separate ventilating-shaft put in. 112. How long have the regulations as to the use of sprays been in force? —Some considerable time—some years. 113. Do the men take advantage of them ?—Some of them do and some do not. 114. Do you think there should be any better precautions taken for the laying of the dust? No. 115. As to miners' phthisis, could you tell us generally what is the cause of it?—No, not from a medical point of view. 116. Do you think it originates with the dust? —No; the dust would seriously affect a man, but I do not know whether it would cause miners' complaint. 117. Have the men here on this field complained to you as to their conditions underground? —Very few; only now and again complaints have reached me. _ 118. What do you do when the men make such complaints? —I advise them to put their complaints in writing and submit them to the secretary of the union. 119. Have you ever received any complaint in writing?—No, not one; but the secretary has made some verbal ones, which I have attended to. 120 As regards the Mining Regulations, could you tell us what remedies or improvements you would suggest for the betterment of the men's condition ?—There are several amendments which require to be made, but just for the time being I cannot enumerate them. I have been very busy, and have not had time to prepare them. 121. Mr. Cochrane.} Do you regard the present system of testing the safety appliances on cages as sufficient? —Yes.