INJURED MINERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26618, 14 November 1947, Page 7

INJURED MINERS

ACTIONS AT COMMON LAW RIGHTS PRESERVED IN NEW BILLS Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON, Nov. 13. The right of miners to proceed at common law with an action for damages after accepting workers - compensation is safeguarded by clauses in both the Coal Mines Amendment Bill and the Mining Amendment Bill, which were introduced and read a first time in the House of Representatives to-day. Explaining the Coal Mines Amendment Bill, the Minister of Mines, Mr McLagan, said it had always been held that a coal miner could accept compensation and still retain his right to proceed at common law. By a recent decision his right to proceed at common law was placed in grave doubt, and the Bill now made the. position quite clear. There was an identical clause in the Mining Amendment Bill. , Nationalisation Plans

“Does that mean that* private enterprise coal mines are to have a respite from nationalisation for another year? asked the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Holland, when the Coal Mines Amendment Bill was introduced. The Minister said the Bill might be described as a little coal mines Bill. The big Bill was not ready. Certain coal mine owners had bombarded him with requests to buy their mines. Some of the big owners were disappointed that the Government had not accepted their offers.

The Bill gave the Government greater control in the issue of coal mining leases, said the Minister. After the issuing of a prospecting licence the Government had no option but to grant a lease for the whole area, but provision was now being made for the granting of leases over part of the area.

The levy for the Coal Miners’ Relief Fund was also increased from to Id a ton. The fund was going back, and was now practically exhausted. The increase in the levy would enable the fund to meet the claims on it.

Dredge Amalgamation

An explanation was also given by the Minister of clauses in the Mining Amendment Bill. He said that at present consent could be given to the amalgamation of dredging claims if they were not more than a mile apart. Application had been made in respect of claims more than a mile apart, but it could not be granted under the existing law. The Bill provided for extension of the distance from a mile to 16 miles.