COAL MINES BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 October 1920, Page 1

COAL MINES BILL.

SOME QF THE GRASSES. (Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 7. The Coal Mines Amendment Bill was introduced : n the House to-day. Ope .of its clauses empowers the Government to nmke grants nr subsidies for the purpose of assisting the coal mining in-, dustry. Tips provision will enable the Government tp make direct grants, or pay subsidies to suitable parties of cooperative miners. The Prime Minister remarked when mentioning this clause in the house that he hoped soon tp see some co-oper-atiye parties at work in the Dominion. The existing law makes no prpyision for renewing coal leases. The term ß such lease vary. The Hill empowers (he Warden or tff'e Pqmmissiqner of (Crpwn Lands, with the consent of the Minister, to renew leases, the total pefipc) not tp exceed ip any case 66 years, the maximum allowed by the maiii Act. The provision of the Main Act requiring royalty to be paid on coal taken from the Mokihinui mine is repealed. The mine has been idle for. about twenty years, but there is still coal in it that could be won by co-operative parties. The Bill provides that the owners of any cqa] mine may put a quartz miner of three years experience in charge of any plape in the mine. The present law does not allow a quartz miner to take charge of a face without three years experience in a coal mipe. Some other provisions of the Bill deal >yith sanitation, ventilation and safety of! mines. MINING ACT AMENDMENT. SOME OF THE PROVISIONS. (Our Parliamentary Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Oct. 6The Mining Amendment gill introduced in the House to-day contains many technical provisions. It provides that no water race license shall be surrendered without the consent pf the Minister for Mines and confers upon the Government the option of taking over a mining privilege at the expiration of the term originally granted, subject to compensation being paid. It amends the provisions of the mining act, 1908 bo as to assist mining companies financially. Another clause enlarges the maximum .area of a dredging claim by permitting any one applicant to obtain 1200 acres instead of 400 acres. The wardens are given supplementary powers in dealing with mining partnerships, it having been found that the existing law is not sufficient in that respect. The Court, dealing with a mine accident may order the payment of costs by a mine manager as an alternative to cancelling or suspending his certificate, in the event of accident being due to bis negligence.