73

C—2

10—C. 2.

APPENDIX C. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF EXAMINERS. Mines Department, Wellington, 25th June, 1920. The Under-Secretary, Mines Department, Wellington. On behalf of the Hoards of Examiners under the Mining Act and the Coal-mines Act, I have the honour to submit (he following report for the year that ended 31st May, 1920. The following candidates were successful al the interim examination held on the 20th May, 1919, and following days: As first-class mine-managers under the Coal-mines Act, 1908 — W. E. G. Hewitson (Burnett's Face), W. C. Davies (Huntly), James Carruthers (Milton). As second-class mine-managers under the Coal-mines Act, 1908 : John Brennan (Kaitangata), R, W. Duncan (Nightcaps). Written examinations for mine-managers' and battery superintendents' certificates were held on the 16th December and following days at Waihi, Huntly, Reefton, and Dunedin. The results were considered at the annual meetings of the Boards of Examiners held in conjoint session at Wellington on the 28th and 29th January last. No candidate was successful in obtaining a first-class certificate as mine-manager under either the Mining Act or the Coal-mines Act. T. R. Hogg was granted a partial pass as a second-class mine-manager under the Mining Act, and O. Bell and S. B. Quintrcll were granted partial passes in the battery superintendent's examination. F. Carson, V. Armstrong, J. Hadcroft, and C. V. P. Maloney were granted partial passes as first-class mine-managers under the Coal-mines Act. Job Makinson, who had passed the written examination for second-class mine-manager's certificate under the Coal-mines Act, and Alexander Cain and J. C. Griffon, who had completed the written examin.ation for the same certificate, were orally examined by a committee consisting of the whole of the members of the Board of Examiners under the Coal-mines Act. All three were successful in the oral examination, and were granted certificates. In addition J. Bashall and J. Turton were granted a partial pass as second-class mine-managers under the Coal-mines Act. In future all candidates for mine-managers' or battery superintendents' certificates who satisfy the requirements of the two Boards in the written examinations will be required to attend a meeting of the Board concerned in order to undergo oral examination. Both Boards consider that searching oral examinations are necessary, in order to ensure that only fit and proper persons shall be granted certificates. Under a regulation gazetted last year, actual travelling-expenses will be refunded to all candidates required to attend such a meeting. Interim written examinations for the candidates who did not obtain complete passes or failed at the December examinations were held on the 25th May and following days. As soon as the examiners' marks are all to hand the candidates will be informed privately of their success or non-success. The following oil-well manager's permit has been issued under Regulations Nos. 199-201 during the twelve months that ended 31st May last : J. E. W. Henchman (New Plymouth). The following holders of foreign certificates have been granted equivalent New Zealand certificates: George Edmund Robins (New Plymouth), first-class mine-managers' certificate under the Coal-mines Act, 1908; Thomas McCloy (Mosgiel), and Herbert Llewelyn Morgan (Ngakawau), second-class mine-managers' certificates under the Coal-mines Act, 1908. In various cases during recent years applications for certificates under the exchange clauses of the Mining and Coal-mines Acts have had to be refused, because the examinations passed by the applicants were not fully equivalent to the New Zealand examinations. In other cases much trouble has been experienced in ascertaining what were the standards and requirements of foreign examinations. Uniformity in the system of examining mine officials throughout the British Empire is much to be desired. At the present time the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy is promoting a, movement having as its objective the standardization of mining examinations through Australasia. If this movement is successful, the question of exchange certificates, so far as Australia and New Zealand are concerned, will no longer present any serious difficulties. Examinations for uuderviewers and firemen-deputies under the Coal-mines Act were held during the year at the following places : Greymouth, on 7th June, 1919, and 16th February, 1920; Dunedin, on 7th October, 1919; Westport, on 7th February, 1920; Huntly, on 10th February, 1920. At these examinations five candidates passed as uuderviewers and thirty-one as firemendeputies. In addition a fireman-deputy's certificate was issued to Henry John Fox, of Denniston, in lieu of certificate No. 5, destroyed by fire. Lists of persons holding certificates under- the Mining and Coal-mines Acts are appended. P. G. Morgan, Chairman of Boards.