THE HOUSE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3146, 26 July 1917, Page 7

THE HOUSE

Tho House of Representatives met at 2.30 p.m. Tho Wairoa. Harbour Board Endowment Bill (Sir John Findlay) was introduced and read a first time. THE MINING INDUSTRY, AN APPEAL TO THE GOVERNMENT. . Mr. H. POLAND (Ohinemuri), speaking on a motion for tho presentation of a departmental report, urged the Government to give increased attontioii to tho mining industry. He Eaid that tho Mines Department ought . to place a Stato-owned stamping machine on tho Ohinemuri goldfields. for tho treatment of ores owned by pooplo who could not afford to install expensive plants cl' their own. This system had proved highly successful in. other countries, and tho expenditure of a. few thousand pounds would increase the output of gold to an important extent. Improved provision was required for the jiifforers from pneumoconiosis. This disease was ravaging tho ranks of the minors,- but when a man became hopelessly incapacitated ho was granted £1 a week if married and 15s. a week if single. Tho rt.en and their dependants could not poisibly live on this allowance. Mr. T. W. EHODES (Thames) urged the Government to encourage the adoption of improved processes, with the object of developing the low-grade ores of the Dominion. Enormous quantities of gold could still be won in Now Zealand. . Mr. J. COLVIN (Buller) said tho Minister for Mines was a fair man, but be was surrounded by hide-bound officials. The treatment of the mon who had contracted miners' phthisis in the course of their employment was very unsatisfactory indeed. The allowance rur.do the sufferers and their dependants was grossly inadequate. Tho fact was that Parliament did not realise tbo importance of the gold mining industry, which had played, and was still playing, a very great part in tho development of the country. Mr..J. PAYNE (Grey Lynn) said tho time had come for the Government to develop tho. mineral resources of New Zealand in a sano and scientific way. Miners should not waste their time in getting from, the earth "such a useless dross as gold." They would bo much better employed digging coal. Tho war had showed clearly that gold was not a necessary commodity. Mr. L. M. ISITT (Christchurch North) said he hall sat in the House for seven years, and seven times ho had heard the representatives of mining districts appeal for a reasonable amount of consideration for tho miners who were dying of pneumoconiosis. A sum of .£BOOO a year would give the miners and their dependants enough' to live upon. Yet year after year the House and the Government listened to the grim tulo unmoved. It was-a sober, luulenied, undeniablo fact that men were dying week by week from miners' disease, a terrible complaint produced by tho dust inhaled in tho mines. l There was no cure for tbo disease.- victims lingered a year or two, and then died. Yet lie Government had contented itself with providing a pension of .£1 a week for tho married men and 15s. a week for the singlo men, with a miserable pittanco lor the widow for two years after her husband's death. "If you want to know the secret of Kctl I'cdisni," said Mr. Isitt, "seek it in tho indifference of this House, and this Government, towards tho sufferings of a section of our workers. Tho terrible disease that afflicts a proportion of tho miners is a fact that I'arliament does not. face. I appeal lo Min--istcrs to see that during tho present session justice is done to the miners who have contracted a fatal disease in tho courso of their employment.'' Mr. T. M. WILFORD (Hutt) said iv>o grievanco of'the minors was undoubted, and it ought to be remedied vithout further delay. Mr. C. H. POOLE (Auckland West) and Mr. A. WALKER (Duncdin North) also urged that juslico should be done lo the miners. The Ron. w; I). S. MAC'DONALD, Minister of Mines, said that tho Govc'rment understood tho position well enough, but large increases in expenditure at tho present, time wore not feasible. It would not be wise lo open up now mines while existing mines wero short of labour. The Minister was interrupted by the 5.30 p.m. adjournment.