a—4.

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[j. E. DUNCAN.

61. Do you think that a feasible method? —Yes. Perhaps other means could be devised, but I consider fhat the heat on the benches to-day is too great, and when a man is up there he breathes the very worst air in the bord. 62. Mr. Beed."] In regard to those signals from the engine-house, are there not already signals provided for communicating with the onsetter? —Yes. 63. Will you show us in the Act where it is compulsory to put in these signals you speak of J— I am only going by what Mr. Bennie says. 64. If those signals were installed might they not lead to accidents by conflicting with others? Do you propose to have two lots of signals ?—I consider that it would be possible to put in a signal with a different sound. 65. Are you aware that Mr. Bennie afterwards explained to the miners' union committee that he had no power to enforce the installation of this signal—l mean, subsequent to the writing of that letter?—No, Mr. Bennie did not say that at any time. 66. The Chairman.] Since you received that letter from Mr. Bennie have you had any discussion with him or has he discussed the matter with any of the officials of the union ?—I do not think the matter has been discussed by them. 67. Was it discussed by the manager and Mr. Bennie when you were present, or did Mr. Bennie discuss it with the committee and state that he had no power?—l do not think Mr. Bennie has come into the union office since I received that letter. 68. Have you any recollection of such an interview? —I do not wish to deny, but I have no recollection of it. Jonathan Valentine sworn and examined. (No. 14.) 1. The Chairman.] What are you? —A miner. 2. With how many years' experience?— Thirty-three. 3. Which mine are you working in? —The Extended. 4. Will you give us in your own words what it is you wish to lay before the Commission?—l think, in the first place, for the safety of the men, the fireman's report should be posted up at the surface, and I also consider that the installation of a signal from the braceman to the driver is necessary in the Extended Mine. I have known times when you could not distinguish the driver in the engine-room at the Extended Mine on account of the steam : that is, when the wind blows from a certain direction. Therefore I think there should be communication between the braceman and the engine-driver. Then, the travelling-way in one place down the north side in the Extended Mine is in very bad order. It is where we cross the haulage-road there, and only a few weeks ago I nearly met with an accident by knocking my head against the timber when the skips were coming. I think it could be altered by putting a place for us to walk over. The next thing I wish to mention is that the miners should have a certain amount of discretion as to the method of working and getting the coal. We have men who dictate to us as to where we are to put our spragging, and I am sure we would meet with accidents if we followed instructions in all cases. 5. We cannot interfere with the management of the mine unless it is shown that the orders given tend to cause accident? —Well, then, this man might ask me to do a thing in a certain way, and I wish to know if I am to follow his instructions if it is not safe. 6. That is outside the scope of our Commission. We cannot dictate as to what overseers shall do. What instructions do you have to follow which you consider are dangerous?—As to putting up my sprags. If I know that I would be killed by holing in a certain way as I am instructed, must I follow those instructions ? 7. From whom do you get those orders?— From the fireman. 8. Do you suggest that the firemen have not sufficient experience? Do they not pass some examination? —They have certificates, but no experience. They are men who have never got coal. The test should be as to whether a man has had experience in working coal. 9. You may make a recommendation to the Commission that the examination for firemen's certificates should include that ?—Yes. I would like to do that, then. 10. Have you had any accidents through obeying these orders? —Only small ones. But I would probably have had more serious ones if I had not argued the point with them and made them give in in certain cases. I think they get their certificates they should be required to prove they have had five years' experience in getting coal. There is another matter which I wish to bring before you, and that is that the tools should be brought to the face where the men work in skips. At the present time we have to carry perhaps half a dozen picks, powder, tea-cans, and a set of drills, and these should be brought in skips. Another thing which badly wants remedying is the cutting of the coal. We have heard here that "the men are liable to lose their eyes in trimming the coal. I maintain not. They trim two different ways, and are not then liable to the same accidents. I have not lost an eye, but I think the majority of eye accidents result from the cutting. Then, I think the bratticing and the bench-bords could be improved a great deal. I have worked in places here where the brattice has been 15, 16, and 17 yards from the face, and in places like that a man does not get the benefit of it. 11. How close to the face should it be taken?— Close enough to satisfy the miner. A man gets more benefit when the brattice is the intake than if it were the uptake. As regards the bratticing and bench-bords, when a man is on the bench it is about 6 ft. high, and he is from 12 ft. to 14 ft. up. I think that the brattice should be carried so as to take effect on the bench. 12. What about the shooting?—lt would not affect it any more than it does now. 13. Mr. Parry.] In regard to the matter of carrying your tools and water, is it not a fact that when you are so loaded with this lumber you are not in a position to see if the 3rive and the roof are safe as required by the Act? —No, most decidedly not. 14. The Chairman.] Would there be any great hardship about having a separate skip for running these things ?•—No, it is done elsewhere. 15. Mr. Bowgray.] A duplicate set of picks will be necessary?—No, it could be done without a duplicate set of picks.