Miners' Phthisis.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 75, 16 August 1912, Page 8

Miners' Phthisis.

Authoritative and Startling Evidence.

The Case for Abolition of Contract System and the Dog Watch.

MINORITY REPOFIT OF MINES

COMMISSION

BUAWN V<V l>V IXUVwKAY AND

i'AIIRV

While we nsveo in th.c main with most of the conclusions arrived at by tlip commission, we wish to express our views upon seversil important questions on which we are not in agreement with the majority of the commissioners.

Our of tin: innsfc important questions whi;-!i the coimiiission has heen <:alled upon to coiisi.'lcr is that dealiny; vi'ith the preventicii of miners' phthisis. While wo think that 'some of the reconuncndntions made by this eonimissioii, when carried into effect, will niiti<T.'ito the disease to some extent, we iiavo learned from the evidence iv.v] obr:Tvatkm that the two chief j contributory causes of this malady are the contract svyteiu and the sln'ft.

In many instances, apart: from the enst in money, a rrr<\«t d"iil of iirue- is wasted and numerous lives are Jost in trying to de.il ellectivoly with certru'n pvils wif'ont legiVlatiii": to pmbnw tin- most iii-,pcrtant cjni.ribv.tory r;>\i:-o< anil hence we find we are cfealin'j; with the eli'ect insicncl of with the onus".

Although .-tils quesriD-i of the conir.K'l: syst:"M was mentioned in- 'tci: , (ludiiMrs oi' the British and repommomlcd tor consideration, we are basin I .': our conclusions in this report lipnn the evidence pnthered by the pref.?nl: commission, which evidence nndnu'itedlv cour-titntes a sfroii.e; indict-

iion (o the ventilation, in cafe doin

;•■<:,t of thi' nir>iW).r, in vo'jue. All the on bohali of the workmen admitted bel'.-ro ib,<? co-imiisslon that Ihe contract work and niiiht shift were Tpsiwusible for bad health and the inpior yi'irtle-u of 11.'" accidents, uot-•,viih?l-ind;t;'.': 1 hot their cri'-nin:;.-j are a tan l'i°n hik! ■;• th" <h\-v:?[S,o syptein. Iji'uvt!'";, ;'.•: tl'f minor d;i>>-. thnt Ins ofcvmiiti.-u i.< lnzavdaus, dangorous. p'.'d vr'hc-ilfbv, in ordor to launch out j,, S p|,,(, <)(•'■(•!■ avevmo of employment h;> riuli-nv)::; t-:> try and make n cheque. :'.u:l taire.; full advantam 1 of tb? time ;;i.-v:t- mid":n-rouiid to iicconmlish the '■lji:"-t- in view. The rc.?uH is w? find the m:m iiiqv-.tient : the pare, ps a rule, is si=t by t!i" msii rjhy.sicnlly in the contract party, and each member -A the pnr+v is expected to do the same Pinomit of'work,"and in tho attempt the Ikst panicle of energy is expended. Not only i\: ih' , "rushisiLr' , a cause of ?erious accidents, but. as ;< consequence of the hard nature of the work and the vigor with which it is sustained, the M!f- - .i th.L':n.V'?lvf', are frecjuentlv so tired il'Lit they h-i.'-'fl. the portion of i<w»' in' , .: •-] when out <-f the mine, whih til:),' :-hi-iild be devoted to <■<*<:■ v'■i<> 11U..1 henlMi-seekiny. V\"Jieii to fatigue is added severe strain, the effect.l may be lamentable, as, for example, the pushing of heavy each of which weighs 1 ton to 25 cwt., and the lifting of heavy macJfJMßßHhich all tends to lower xite the constitution. The worn appearance of the inpti- in those districts where these systems are in vo'.',vie is a practical o\-e;nvi!iiieat!on of th'< loss cf vital-

if v. This wa.-i noticed, by Hie members' i; 1 ' tlii" , ci.iMi'ni'Mi-'ii ot Wiilii, and in (if! -r in ;i-\"i iii'H the slato <jf th-'' health, and condition of the nun ; n "•(■:nera! they made a requisition to the Cljvornmeut to .'ippoint a medical -expert to join tho commission. We re n ,rei that the Government did not see fit to sir aut the request, for had this been done we feel sure the conclusions wonl<l have been more satisfactory.

Dr. Coiilon. in giving evidence before the commission, saii-V "Tho contractors are the men who suffer nrost; the good miners always go under quicker." In answer to a question by the chairman on the subject, he further stated that the more the men exerted themselves the more likely they were to get the disease, and that "the men , who worked hard frequently go away from the district because their health is affected. A man cannot work underground and extend himself as he can on the surface. Tf you look through a list of the men who have suffered from the disease you will find that they are the men who worked as contractors." Continuin<T his evidence, in reply to a commissioner, he said that the work lowers a man's vitality an<l he runs into places without waiting; for the du°.t to settle, thus raking bigger ri«';s : further, that the avenge aso of men dyitiy in tb' l Rceftou district, during a period of 12} years, would probably work out at 55.

We also quote valuable information by Thomas Oliver, M.D.. F.R.C.P., from his work on '"Diseases of Occupation." He quotes Dr. H. Bremridge, who is on the medical staff of tho Kolar y;oldii?ld, India, as follows: —

"In the Kolar p;old-mincs there ar'. , 40,000 cociios employed; the rook is hard. Dr. Bi'arnrid'.ro -ivent to India psppotinjr to meet with miners' phthisis, but failed to find evidence of the disease except in men who came i'rom the Transvaal. He found that the native and white men kept in .mod health. He attributes the freedom from miners' phthisis partly to ike fact that the men take more leisure., and are not so oa^ei , to make a fortune as the miners in the Transvaal." Dr. Oliver also says:— "The miners on the Rand ore paid for piecework; they are impatient, and as they prefer to run risks some persons may say the men are not altogether to blame. They rush back too Koon after blasting to recommence work in the particular part of the mine, the air of which contains a slight- excess of CO2 when the explosion has been complete and always ,1 large quantity of dust. They neither allow the smoke to clear away nor the dust to settle."

These circunistaiices show the desire on' the part of the men to run these risks in order to earn one or two shillings a day more, not only in this country, but in every other country where tin's system is in operation; and we are of opinion that the system is also responsible for the bad distribution of air, as the men do not seem to give any considera-

ia.iv impede them in their work. They push mi lor footage and tonnage, which determines the amount of wages they receive, and (hereby assist the companies in evading the provision of adequate- ventilation. In many cases it is more economical for the companies to give a prize to the men than establish proper ventilation. We contend that any system which embraces a decoy for men to run risks underground—reluming too soon after firing, etc. —is dangerous t;) health, limb and life. Circumstances show that the broken reck tends, after blaslin;;, to imprison poisonous gases. The subsequent liberation of these becomes a source of danger when the work is carried on before the nir of that vicinity is perfectly clear from dust and all poisonous >.>■:-.?•<«.

We have observed thai accidents are far more numerous in the di.si-vic.-ts where mining is carried on under the contract system than on day wages. This was also observed by Mr. Coutts, Ihe late inspector of mines for the Ifauraki district. He reported in the "Now Zealand Mines Record" of January 17, 1002. lie- brought a charge fiii-a'inst- Pile and Perry, at the Warden's Court, of having committed a broach of the Mining Act- by neglecting io tell their mates, who were relieving them on shift, as to an unesploded charge. Mr. Coxitis pointed out that he had brought t'.'- , .* present case forward as a warning, especially in view of the fact that there had been more accidents at the Waihi mine during the last six Tiifl'.iiihs than had been the case for ten years previously. He was sure these accidents were in a largo measure du-.» t-o the contract system, as the men went- to work hurriedly and they left as quickly, and somehow there did not seem to be the amount of earo exercised when explosives were being dealt wi'ih that was necessary. In our opinion this statement by Mr. Coutts (who had had years of experience) amply proves thai the contract men do their work more hurriedly, and consequently moie rislc is incurred, and at the same time shows that more accidents happened for the last six months than had bron the case for the previous ten years, considering the ten years mentioned was worked on the day system. Here wo quote Thomas Oliver again. He said, in regard to phthisis amongst Cornish tin-miners:— "Taking this view of the malady, tin-miners' phthisis can be to a large extent prevented by laying of the dust by wfiter-spraying, by the men notreturning too soon to the particular part- of the mine after tine use of explosives, and by care taken in removing the ore." This authority advises, not. only in one place in his valuable work, but right through his book, that- one chief factor in the prevention of the malady is for the men not to return too soon after firing, and our contention, is that any system of wo'k'thafc'allures men to run these risks is a danger to the »*sjn ema menace to the com anur-

The niglit shift, more commonly known us the "dog watch," is abhorred by all miners, and is known to be an enemy to the health and vitality of the worker. It was unanimously agreed by ihf commission that it was detrimental to the health ot! tho worker under the most favorable conditions, and yet the majority did sot feel disposed to recommend its abolition. According to the evidence, men became very nervous on this shift, owing to the broken rest and tihe unnatural times at which they are compelled to take their meals, and consequently they are not in a fit state to exercise that care which mining demands in dealing with dangerous grounds and the use of explosives.

Tho night shift especially when added to the contract system (which undoubtedly fosters tho continuation of night shift and makes it more i'requenti), has a most injurious effect on a man's health, hence his constitution becomes run dowu and leaves the worker an easy victim to phthisis. Dr. Oliver said: "When a man is low in vitality it predisposes him to disease." We here ciuote Dr. Frazer-Hurst, of Waihi, who stated in evidence before the commission:— ~ "My first experience with regard to accidents in Waihi was this: that I found almost in every case I underestimated the duration of a, man's incapacity as compared with what I had been accustomed to regard as sufficient in other places. That was for two reasons : firstly, because the men did not seem to have the recuperative power rhat one might expect from that type of man; then, a man might be well enough to return to ordinary work, but lie would not be fit to go back to a hazardous occupation such as mining, where other men's lives depend on his being well." He further stated:— "My work in the Old Country brought mc into touch with men in: outdoor occupations, .such as shipyards and docks, and there my impression was that the duration of an injury is shorter than it is here."

He also stated that boils and poisoned hands were very common here, which, he said, was usually a sign of lowered vitality. Then, in regard to this niatler of lowered vitality, he further said:

"One tliiug which has struck mc forcibly in regard to that (lowered vitality) is the nervousness that one meets with in able-bodied men. Ifc has occurred to mc that the broken rest that a man on the shift system has to content himself with has something to do wiiJi it. They do not seem to get accustomed to f. set Lour for sleeping before it is champed again and they have another sleeping time, and thus their rest is not always so complete. I think that also affects the women in the district. It has struck mc while I have been in practice here how very neurotic they are, and I have put that down to the broken rest as well as to the anxiety in regard to accidents; that is the effect those things have upon their general health. Then, of course, the working at irregular hours causes digestive troubles, as does also the

i'r;-i-;ueu: alirrai i.m i'l' ihe inoal-l imo.s." \'w. ill--'') quote I rotri :ni essay by Air. MeConibie, niiiioniiuntger, who received the {li.iid i>mo from the- Government I'iir lii,-: cwiiy o; "The Present Condilion it lid .I ,, uturc Prospects ol : the. Mineral Pu:.sources of iN'ew Zealand and the lk'sl Menus oi Fostering their Development" : — N'igbt- Shift.—Generally speaking, this shift begins at 12 midnight., and terminates ut 8 a.m. It is variously termed thp 'dog watch' or iho 'graveyard shift,' and jl is cordially hated by everyone who is uiilortmiaU' enough to come under its rule. Speaking from a long experience tit' tin? night s-'hiit, J. have not the slightest hesitation in savin;.'; that it is injurious to tliL' health and well-being of those who have- to work it, and it is not profitable to the employers. Turning out at 11 p.m., ftfuu- a restless sleep of a few hours, nu'ii are nob lit to undertake the duties of an ordinary miner, with its ever-present danger, and the work they perform is not- up to the required standard -either in quantity or quality. It- is an indisputable fact thatl towards the end of a week spent on the night shift the average miner is scarcely able to drag one leg after the other, and he is working under protest all the time. When in this condition it is absurd, to e>:p.>et. a man to do a fair eight hours' 'graft' or to protect himself from the risks incidental to iiis occupation. As a rule, there are more accidents in a mine, on the night shift than is the case m>oll either of the other shifts, and 1 attribute. This entirely to the- fact that the victims of such accidents are so enervated through want of rest as to be incapable of taking ordinary precautions to save themselves. Of course, it is absolutely necessary to employ three shifts in a great many instances in connection with mining and milling gold and silver-bearing ores, and in this respect it would be unreasonable to lay down a cast-iron rule for the r guidance of minp-oivners. At the same time, I think the three-shift system is often carried out whore it could be avoided to a very large extent, and it is a blot on our twentieth-century civilisation to permit its continuance wherever it can be economically abolished."

Another important matter which we wish to bring under your notice is the payment of workmen's inspectors. The miners employed in any mine are entitled, under subsection, (48) of section 40 of the Coal Mines Act, 1908, and section 2d4. of the Mining Act, 1908, to appoint two persons to inspect the mine on their behalf at least once a month, in order to ascertain its condition. This provision has not been taken advantage of to the extent we would wish. Various reasons have been advanced as to why the rule has not been carried out. All witnesses examined on behalf of both management and workmen agree as to the benefits to be derived by observing this rule, but they differ in their reasons as to why the appointments were not made and the examinations carried out. Some miners' unions gave as their reasons that they could not afford to pay two men, while others contended that the workmen's inspectors appointed under the Act had no power, and therefore they did sot see any reasons for making the appointments. But by far the greater number suggested that the chief reason for this rule being neglected was that the workmen who might be appointed, and who might give an adverse report on the conditions prevailing in t'he mine,, were afraid of being victimised. Although rroea.-jos .could |k> oiterl in which dismissal ot workmen under 'Siieh circumstances had actually occurred, the witnesses maintained that there were more ways than one of making men suffer apart from discharging them. Further, a remarkable feature about the reports brought before- coroner's inquests in this Dominion by workmen's inspectors is their unanimity of "No blame being attachable to any* one." We are inclined to think that there are some grounds for the F.en being afraid to express an honest opinion. are anxious for the workers to appoint inspectors under existing conditions and they deny that there is any ground for being afraid of unfair treatment.

We have given some attention to this subject, and we. feel it would Iβ better for all concerned if. the woi'kmen's inspectors were appointed ond paid in the same manner as prevails in France. We have no hesitation in saying that if the same system were adopted in this Dominion it would give entire satisfaction to all concerned. The French miners hare had many j'ears' experience of the system, which entitles them to appoint a person from their own number who shall devote his whole attention to the examination of the mines. Those who are appointed are generally thoroughly experienced miners of more than average intelligence, and, so far as we can learn, this examination has givea absolute satisfaction, and the French miners believe that it has done more to increase the safety and comfort of the miners than the general inspection by the government inspector of mines. The Governments of Britain, Germany, and Austria have been making careful inquiries as to how the system works in France, and the miners of those countries are also urging their Governments to give them powers similar to those possessed by the French irmers in any future mining legislation. It has been argued by the members cf the present commission that this would remove the control of the workmen's inspectors from the hands of the miners themselves by making them Government officials; but this is not so in France. It 13 not a dual inspection; and although the Government pays these inspectors, it in turn recovers their salaries from tho mine-owners. The Government under these circumstances has no control over them. It has also been argued that friction might arise between the mine-managers and tho workmen's inspectors, or between the government l inspectors of mines and the workmen's inspectors'; but we would point out tho*. \Tn<!cr both the Coal MiiK'S and ?,j£i>*ng Acts the workers have the to appoint inspectors, and tjy? only difference would be tlijxt Mc Government would pay thorn Instead of the miners; also that they would be permanently employed rather than occasionally, as at present. This would place them in a position to express their opinions freely, independent of anyone. We append an extract from the French law on the subject:—:

"Th(.> JfreVh law of J-ak 8, 1890 (anyjneied by the laws o/-'March 25,

W. E. PARRY. JOHN DOWGRAY.

N. D. COCHRANE

Wellington, December 16, 1911

I'liil. and of .May i), liHVi), provides f'.r ilift election 'of delegates by the working-miners for the regular inspection of (he mines. The duties of these dplcgulna are to examine twice a month all the underground workings in their d : sifcric:ts and places where serious accidents have occurred. The districts arc Jixed by the prefect, who is guided in his decision by the re]X>rts made by the government inspectors and the statements submitted by the, mineowners. As to the extent of these districts, it has been laid down that the- workings belonging to one and the same- owner, which can be inspected carefully in not more than six days, form one inspection district. In the Pas-de-Calais coalfield, where, according to M. Leon, the chief inspector of this district, about 65,000 men are employed below the surface, there are 70 of these delegate inspectors. The reports made by the delegates must be entered in a book kept by the owner for that particular purpose. The owner may make his remarks on the delegate's report. Both delegate and owner must immediately forward a copy of their remarks or reports to the Prefect of the Department who must communicate them to the mines inspectors. The government mines inspectors have no direct communication with the delegates. They must not give them orders. Thus the delegates do not form a part of the official French mines inspection ; they are described in an order issued by the Minister for Public Works, dated February 17, 1891, as visiteurs rapporteurs (visiting 'reporters). The government inspectors may require the presence of the miners' delegate on their visits of inspection. The number of days employed for inspection by the delegate varies accords ing to the size of his district. The maximum is 12 days. Accidents necessitating the presence of the delegate are not reckoned in the number of days employed by him in inspection work.

Electorate, Eligibility, Remuneration. —The electorate is composed of all actual underground workers of French nationality. Eligibility: Any elector having worked for not less than five years underground (two of which must have been spent in the district or an adjacent district, provided that ten years have not elapsed since he last worked) is eligible if he is 25 years of age, able to read and write, and has not been guilty of any infraction of certain mining laws and articles of the penal code. Delegates and deputydelegates are eleoted for the space of three years. The remuneration varies. It is computed by the number of days spent in examining the pits. If these days number 12 per month (the maximum) the delegate receives 24 times the daily wage of a first-class hewer. No delegate is supposed to have spent less than 10 days per month in inspecting mines in which 230 men are underground; these 10 days give him the right to a monthly salary equal to 20 times the day wage of a first-class hewer. Services rendered in case of accident, etc., at l paid extra, but no delegate cam receive more than 30 times the above-mentioned standard daywage. (This standard wage is fixed yearly by the prefect.) The delegate's salary is paid by the government with moneys contributed by t>he mine-own-ers."

Wβ therefore 4 recatnmend for your consideration:—'

(1) Prohibition of the midnightshift ; (2) Abolition of the contract system; (3) Payment at workmen's, jiiappctors.

I concur in the above report so far as it relates to the payment of workmen's inspectors.