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C—4

Herbert Couch sworn and examined. (No. 15.) 1. The Chairman.'] What are you?—A miner, and a check inspector for the union. 2. How many years' mining experience have you had 2 —Ten. 3. What is it you wish to lay before the Commission? —I wish to corroborate what the previous witnesses have said, with a few exceptions. I would like you to take into consideration the benching of high bords. The bratticing should be conveyed by means of a hurdle which would run the brattice across and give a good supply of air. At the present time the men on the bottom get what little air there is coming in on the bench-bords, while the men on the top do not get enough. I consider that in the working of this mine there should be a standard distance between drives, which would tend to make the supply of air adequate. 4. What distance should they be apart?— Ten yards. 5. What is the distance now?—lt is nearly 20 yards. I would like to take exception to the dust in the travelling-ways. When the Commission was visiting the mine the manager requested us to stay back because the dust was not good for the Commissioners. There is another thing which I have noticed on my inspections, and which requires attention. It has reference to the truckers. In some cases the pulley-wheel is set on the chock-pin on the floor. The practice is to follow the empty truck up to the chock and cross over, and follow the full skip down. 6. What is the danger?— Under the Mining Act they are not allowed to do it. 7. Then that is already provided for? —I would suggest that it should be enforced. Then there is the matter of fingerposts. In travelling to the upcast shaft you have to go through the old workings, and there are absolutely no fingerposts to show strangers where they are going. In regard to the conveyance of tools into the working-faces, I consider there is great risk of danger to the men when carrying their tools in the travelling-ways. When a man is carrying his pick on his shoulder in a low place the points of the pick touch the roof, with the result that the picks are sometimes thrown backwards, and in falling are apt to injure a man. Our tools should be conveyed near to the working-faces. In regard to the signal to the braceman from the enginedriver, I think that also is necessary. A short time ago five men got into a cage, and when they found there were five in it one was about to get out when the cage went down with the whole five. It is about time something was done in the direction of providing signals from the bracemen to the engine-room for the lowering and hauling of men. 8. How is the signal given now? Who gives the signal to lower? —There is no signal to lower. There is a signal from the banksman to the man below, and then there is a signal given to pull up. The braceman might wave his hand as a signal for the engine-driver, but if there is a fog the engine-driver could not see it. 9. The Chairman.] There are no means of signalling to the engine-driver except from below? —That is so. 10. Mr. Fletcher .] In the gold-mines they signal instead of waving their hands ? —Yes, they pull a bell. In Waihi they have signals from the brace to the engine. 11. Have you ever worked in a colliery where there was a signal from the banksman to the engine-driver? —No. I have never worked in a colliery where there were men lowered or hauled in a shaft. Charles Frederick Watson sworn and examined. (No. 16.) 1. The Chairman.] What are you? —A miner. 2. Do you hold any other office in the mine? —No. 3. How many years' mining experience have you had? —Fifteen. 4. Just give us in your own words what it is you wish to say before the Commission?—l desire only to corroborate the statements of previous witnesses, with a few exceptions. 5. Let us hear the exceptions? —I recommend the abolition of the contract and tonnage system, as there is too much hurry and scurry under them, whereas if we had only the day-wages system that would be done away with. The miners should be given more discretion in getting coal. The man at the face has the best idea of the condition of that place. If the places were driven on shift wages it would tend to minimize accidents. 6. Do they blow out the coal in places? —Yes, very frequently. 7. Is the coal better when blown out or after cutting?—l think the cutting would give the biggest coal. The trouble is the question of big dividends against life. I think the crosscuts should be driven every 12 yards in bords and headings. There is nothing in the mine in the way of ambulance stretchers. The appliances are kept in the engine-room, and a man could die before they were got down to him. Robert Grtjndy sworn and examined. (No. 17.) 1. The Chairman.] What are you? —A miner. 2. How many years' mining experience have you had? —Over thirty. 3. Let us hear what it is you have to bring before the Commission? —I have nothing fresh, and need only corroborate what the previous witnesses have said, except that I wish to emphasize the necessity for better ventilation. The safety of the mines could be improved with a greater number of splits, so that each district could have its own split. 4. You do not believe in the system of the air travelling round the other working-places? N o , J i, aV e noticed for a long time that the accidents are more serious and also more numerous under the contract system than they are under the day-wage system, and I think that provision should be embodied in the Coal-mines Act abolishing the contract system. I think the employers would get better service, and, taking everything into consideration, it would be far better for all concerned. Apart from these matters I only wish to corroborate what the other witnesses have said,