MINING EXPERTS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1846, 4 September 1913, Page 5

MINING EXPERTS.

AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE. Tho School of Mines and Boards of Examiners' Conference was continued yesterday. There were present: Mr. Poland. M.P. and Mr. Gibson (Karangaliake), Mr. Rhodes, 31.P. (Coromandel), Mr. Lovell (Westport). Mr. Fletcher (Huntly), Professor Park (Dunedin), Mr. Morgan (Wailii), Mr. M'Padden (Reefton), Mr. Baker (Thames), Mr. Reed, Inspecting Engineer and member of Board of Examiners, Mr. Morgan. Director of Geological Surveys, and chairman of hoard, Mr. Blow. Under--Sucretary of Mines, and Mr. Radcliffe, secretary to board. The following resolutions wero passed:— ' • "That examinations for mine-mana-gers and battery superintendents bo held in December instead of March." "A syllabus for all subjects for all certificates bo prepare'd and published, said syllabus to be adapted from tlioso of the Schools of Mines." An "Amendment of Coal-mines Act, lflOS, Section 234," was proposed as follows:—"No person shall bo qualified to be an applicant for certificate of competency unless he — "(1) Is twont-y-thrco years of age or upwal'ds. and "(2) Has had for a period of not less than five years, or (in the case of an applicant who has received a mjning diploma from t'lio Otago University) of not less than three years all round practical acquaintance with mining; and "(3) Has given satisfactory evidence of his sobriety, experience, and general good conduct." Tho motion was carried on tlio casting vote of tho chairman. "That tho practical experience required of a candidate for mine-mana-gers' certificates shall bo of a varied and all-round nature." I Tho principle of varied sorvice was discussed, and tho feeling of the meeting was thnt the matter of definition he left to the discretion of tho boards of examiners. "That the period of service for bat-tery-superintendents' certificates bo increased from ono tn two years." "That a new syllabus ho drawn up for the battery superintendents' examination, in which the definitions of the various subjects shall bo • revised, nnd hrowrht into accordance, with modern practice, and that a sub-committee be appointed to draw up such syllabus." "That the' syllabuses drawn up by the sub-committee be adonted." "That the bnmls of examiners be requested to publish tl'o marks obtained in tho examinations."