€—2

This scheme, which originated with the Miners' Phthisis Act, 1915, is administered by the Social Security Commission, and the following is a summary of the operations for the year ended 31st March, 1946 : _g Payments from Ist November, 1915, to 31st March, 1945 .. 1,574,667 Payments, 1945-46.. .. .. .. .. .. 88,359 1,663,026 Number of new grants for year 1945-46 — Males .. .. .. .. .. .. 29 Females .. .. .. .. .. .. 9 3B Number of benefits in force at 31st March, 1946 (including 2 emergency benefits) — Males .. .. .. .. 647 Females .. .. .. .. .. .. 91 —738 Annual value of benefits in force at 31st March, 1946 .. .. £101,338 Dissection of benefits in force at 31st March, 1946 Single miners .. .. .. .. .. .. 214 Married miners .. .. .. .. .. .. 433 Widows .. .. .. .. .. .. 91 738 LEGISLATION Under the Atomic Energy Act, 1945, provision was made for the control in New Zealand of the means of producing atomic energy, and for that purpose to provide for the control of the mining and treatment of the ores of uranium and other elements which may be used for the production of atomic energy and to provide for the vesting of such substances in the Crown Under the Statutes Amendment Act, 1945, certain amendments were made to the Coal-mines Act, 1925. These are mostly of routine machinery nature and provide that additional matters shall be shown on coal-mine plans, that the Minister of Mines may acquire and hold shares in stock in companies, and that the Minister may sell or otherwise dispose of lands exempted from Part 111 of the principal Act. In addition, the Quarries Act, 1944, was also amended to provide that managers of certain specified quarries were not required to hold certificates if holding permits under the section. Under section 15 of the Finance Act (No. 2), 1945, section 15 of the Customs Act Amendment Act, 1939, was amended by reducing the duty on gold from 75 per cent, of the amount by which the New Zealand currency value of London market price exceeds £9 ss. Bd. to 40 per cent, of the same amount. Various amendments and additions to the regulations under the Mining Act, 1926, are contained in the Mining Regulations 1926, Amendment No. 10, which was issued during the year. ALUMINIUM-DUST THERAPY FOR SILICOSIS It is to be regretted that it has not been possible to make arrangements for Dr. W. D. Robson, Medical Director of Mclntvre Research, Ltd., to visit New Zealand personally and advise the Government on the prophylactic treatment of silicosis. Unfortunately, there are so many demands upon Dr. Robson's time that a visit is impossible.

22