MINING BILL

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1905, 13 November 1913, Page 9

MINING BILL

AN IMPORTANT MEASURE*

SAFETY OF WORKERS.

Tlio Mining Amendment Bill Was introduced lit tho House of llepreseiitatives yesterday by Governor's Message, Tho Bill proposes to give effect to the recommendations of the Mines Commission relating to ventilation iii mines aifd tho safety of workers. There are intended to ensure that ropes used ..for the raising and lowering of, cages shall be regularly inspected, and that they shall be strong enough to sustain any weights likely to bo put upon them. Under no circumstances may a spliced rope, of a ropo that has been in rise for more than three and a half years, bo used for tho raising or lowering of persons in a shaft. Another provision ,enjoihs ; tlio fitting in all shafts where a rage is Vised of safety devices to prevent the fall of the cago- when . detached from the rope. A series of sub-clauses lay down rules tho intention of which is to safeguard tho lives of minors. Theso clauses relate to ventilation, machinery, the use of explosives, and the s.upply of water for the laying of dust raised by drills or explosions. It is proposed also that thcro shall be attached to all inilScs,'other than ■open alluvial mines, at which mora than ton men are employed, bathhouses supplied with hot and cold water, bill the owner of ,a„ mine, shall not bo compelled id erect n batli-houso unless such is demanded by a percentage of the men (varying with the minvher of' workers). If tlio baths ara not used by 20 per cent, of the workers, it shall be optional with the manager whether ho keeps tho bath-house open or not. Additional powers are to lie given to workmen's inspectors,, employed by any minors' iimon at> tlio expense of tlio . union. It theso inspectors, of which (here must bo two ■for each inspection area, declare that the m.iivp, o.y any portion o'f it is dangerous to life, tho mine manager must forthwith forward a copy of tho report to the mines inspector lor tho district.. Failure to comply with tho workmen's ii» specters'' direction as to dangerous workings or dangerous practices may constitute an offence tiiid'c.f the Act, l).iit an information alleging such a breach may be laid only by the mines' inspector. Tho penalties fixer! arc fmos not exceeding £100 for every day on which the offence is continued.

Another clause provides that men must bo at once Withdrawn from workin,'is where noxious pases aro known to exist. Tho area, shall then, bo inspected, and until tho workings are reported as not dangerous no workmen shall be allowed to ro-rnter those workings. Thore aro also provisions prescribing tho procedure f.or official inquiries into accidents.

Under the Bill it is proposed that regulations may bo made tor various pur l poses, especially to require adequate ventilation iu mines. The Finance Minister is to be. empowered to borrow on the security of the public revenues of "New Zealand a s.Wni upt ox-cwding £20,000 a year v)hmtwith to make advances to companies for the. development of tninmp. An. auieri.dmqnt to the exi'slmg law is proposed by which miners who hato contracted tho disease pneumoi'onioMS shall b© entitled to benefit from t-fe> •Miners' Relief Fund:, equally with miners who have suffered injuries froni accident. Fo.r safety of men being raised ai"l lowered iu cages, it is. provided thnt winding engine-drivers must bo e\> (imin'od annually by a medical man. and an ongino-drivcr may not bo einmo.ved Unless be is frco f.r.o.m heart weakness* liability to fits, or- defective healing or c.