THE MINES COMMISSION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1372, 24 February 1912, Page 22

THE MINES COMMISSION.

REPORT PRESENTED.

The report of the Mines Commission was tabled in the House yesterday. It is lengthy, and of a technical character The commissioners recommend, for the better prevention of accidents, that Government Inspectors of Mll.es > W" 1 to pass an examination higher thin that of mine manager; that specified additiona, powers be given to n » le »t' ns f ?f and workmen's inspectors; that a toalminer shall have, two am. a halt year, experience in hewing and timbering, and ; shall be 21 years of age bciore having ; cha-'c of a place; and that certain duties of iSaputiw shall be compulsory on deputies and firemen. Regulations for the supplv of ambulance appliances and instruction in first-aid should lie Hindu. llrCourt of Inquiry into accidents should comprise the warden, with one, mine manager, and ono representative of the in ners as assessors under both the Coal Mines and .Mining Act. The Hoard of Examiners for mine managers and other officials should consist oi one representative of owners of mines being a mining engineer, one represent;!.r-o of the workmen, the Inspecting. Lngiiivi; of Mines, the Director of Geological [surveys, and the Surveyor-General, both under the Mining.and Coal Mines Acts. Improvements in underground sanitation are required, and change and bath-houses should be compulsorily provided for. The commissioners recommend, for the prevention of miners' phthisis, the compulsory use of waterblasts or other suitable appliances, and that no man shall return to a close place until the air is free from tho dust, smoke, or fumes of blasting. As measures of relief they recommend that miners suffering from phthisis should havo tho free medical advico of a Government expert' and that in addition to the homos and sanatoria already established, adequate relief bo provided from tho Gold Miners' Relief Fund for those suffering from miners' phthisis, which for that purpose shall be subsidised £1 for £1 by tho Government. Qualifications for relief shall be five years' residence in New Zealand immediately prior to the application for relief, two years and a half of which shall havo boon occupied in mining underground or working at a crushing mill in New Zealand. The commissioners suggest tho offering of a bonus or premium for some procoss, including a suitablo bond, which will produce good briquettes or eggettes from New Zealand soft coals or 6lack at a marketable prico. There ore many other recommendations relating to tho technicalities of ventilation, sanitation, explosives, utilisation of bituminous coals, etc. The report is signed by all tho commissioners. Messrs. Parry and Dowgray a)6a submit a minority report recommending prohibition of tho midnight shift, abolition of the contract system, and payment of workmen's inspectors. Mr. Cochrane concurs in tho last-named proposal.