83

a—4.

E. B. GREEN.]

31. Can you tell us how many days in the year you have been occupied on this extra work ?— No, not yet: that is the information lam getting for you. I will produce it at the earliest opportunity. 32. The Chairman.] Does this work interfere with the efficient inspection of the mines under your care ?—I would not like to admit that the mines are not efficiently inspected, but any one can see that these extra duties add to the hours of my employment. 33. Mr. Cochrane.] You do not neglect your inspection duties ? —I do not care to say anything on that point. Of course, I have my superiors, and if they choose to instruct me to undertake this extra work I endeavour to do it. 34. You heard the evidence at Nightcaps ?—Yes. 35. Have you anything to say as to fixing a standard temperature for mines ?—For that mine or all mines ? 36. For all mines generally ?—No. 37. Have you read Dr. Haldane on mine-gases and mine-temperatures ? —-1 have the first edition of his work on the subject, and my bookseller has had my order for a copy of the new edition for twelve months. I have Foster and Haldane's book, issued in 1906. 38. You are accustomed to the taking of wet and dry temperatures ? —Latterly, yes ; they have lately come into vogue. 39. Are you aware that Dr. Haldane states that men cannot carry on continuous work at 80° saturated ? —Yes, I have read something of that in the report of the Royal Commission. 40. Do you agree with it ?—Under certain conditions, I do. 41. What conditions ? —lf the air were bad with foul gases present in the atmosphere. If the air were pure I should say that a man could work in that temperature, but a good deal would depend on his physical condition and the length of time he was required to work, also on the amount of work he was expected to do. 42. You would also take into account whether the air was moving or still I —Yes. 43. And at 78°, would you contradict Dr. Haldane ?—No, we are looking to him for knowledge. 44. Then, if he says 78° is the temperature beyond which it should not go, would you be in favour of the shift being reduced from eight to six hours in saturated air ? —Without professing a deep knowledge of this subject, I may say that I have already given men reduced hours of working in a lower atmosphere than that in foul air. 45. The Chairman.] What element determined that ? —The effect upon myself and the state of the men working there. This does not refer to Nightcaps. One man spoke to me, and I conferred with the manager, with the result that the man was allowed to go home before the shift was finished. The manager agreed to the shift being shortened. 46. Mr. Cochrane.] Do you consider the law as it stands gives you sufficient power to deal with such cases of inadequate ventilation ? —Yes. 47. Have you sufficient power to enforce the law as it now stands ?- —Yes ; that is to say, if I find a place which in my opinion is inadequately ventilated —if the ventilation provided is not an infringement of the special rules in regard to large quantities of firedamp, &c. —of course, I would ask that the men should be withdrawn; but, as a rule, I find that that is done. 48. But the question is, does the law at present give you sufficient power to compel a company to provide the men with adequate ventilation ? —Yes, I have instituted proceedings against a company for not providing the prescribed quantity of air at the working-face. The manager contended that the air was put into the mine and that was sufficient; but Mr. Widdowson, S.M., held otherwise—that the men must get it at the face. 49. Would you favour reducing the present three-hour limit for returning to miss-fires ?—I think they might do it in quartz-mines, but not in coal-mines. I notice in quartz that one hour has been suggested. In that matter I bow to the opinion of others. 50. What is the difference in principle ? —Quartz-dust is not .combustible, while coaldust is. 51. Now, have you anything to say in regard to signalling in alluvial mines ?—No. I have no underground alluvial mines in my district. 52. Mr. Fletcher.] Do those other duties, such as the inspection of roads and bridges, prevent you from carrying out your regular duties as Inspector of Mines ?—No. 53. You look after the mines first and leave the other duties to be attended to afterwards ?—Yes. 54. Mr. Dowgray.] In reply to a question by Mr. Cochrane, you stated that you had reduced shifts from eight to six hours by request of the men ?—Yes. 55. And you take into consideration the effect of the air upon yourself and the conditions under which the men are working. Do you think a nian is in a better position to judge of the effects upon himself of working in such a place than you ?—Yes, a man must know more about it from his own point of view than I would. 56. There is a point which has struck me but which we have not touched upon yet. We have been dealing with quartz-mines and the gases found in them. I would like your opinion as regards coal-mines —as to whether a deputy, when he discovers gas in a mine, should let it remain there until sampled by the manager to ascertain the amount and quality of gas in that particular section of the mine. Of course, the deputy in the first instance has to report his own opinion ?—Well, if there were a large body of gas, I would say that the deputy should call the manager; but if it were only a small quantity he could remove it by brattice. The deputy is an experienced man and holds a certificate. 57. But they have not a great deal of experience in regard to gases ?—lt is a complicated matter. 58. Would this not be encouraging them to use their judgment ? Both the manager and the deputy would take samples, which could be compared, and perhaps by that method they would gain more practical knowledge. Would you agree to such a provision as that being embodied in the Act ? —Yes, we are advancing every day. Ido that sort of thing frequently. You wish the manager to collect and keep records. Yes, it would be an extra safeguard.