89

C—4

John Heard sworn and examined. (No. 25.) 1. The Chairman.] What are you ? —A miner. 2. How many years' experience have you had ? —1 have been working in the Kaitangata Mine eighteen years; I have been away for about a year during that time. 3. Do you hold any office in the mine ? —No. 4. Or any position in connection with the luiion % —I am on the executive. 5. To what matters do you wish to direct the attention of the Commission ? —To the working of the pillars and head coal. I agree with what the other witnesses have said on the subject. I think it is worked too high at present for the safety of the men. 6. Have you any suggestions to offer ? —No, I cannot improve on their statements. 7. You agree with their views ? —Yes. ■ 8. Is there any other matter you wish to bring before the Commission ? —Yes, I would like to see the ropeway at Castle Hill cleared of trucks for the men to go in. ■9. Does their presence there make it in any way dangerous, or only inconvenient ? —lt is not dangerous, but very inconvenient. 10. You have never known any accident happen through the present system ? —No. 11. Have you anything to say as to the ventilation ? Are you satisfied with it ? —Yes, lam quite satisfied with the ventilation we get in the Castle Hill Mine. 12. Have you anything to say as to that emergency escape ? —I consider it is a long way behind the times. I would not like to use it myself. 13. What are your objections ?—Well, if two men went up in that bucket they would never get to the top. 14. What do you consider the danger ?—The men are not accustomed to riding in those tubs— it is not a very safe way. 15. Is the method of hauling a safe way ? —I could not say—l have not seen it working. 16. Mr. Dowgray.] You think it is only fit for use as a last resource % —Yes, I consider it a paltryaffair. 17. The Chairman.] Is there anything underground to indicate the direction to that place underground in case of emergency ? —I think the men could find it. 18. Mr. Dowgray.] Could you find your way round the furnace I—Yes,1 —Yes, easily. 19. There are no fingerposts pointing the way ? —Well, I have not been in there for a long time. 20. Do you carry your own picks out ? —We carry them down in the morning, but they come up in the box. 21. Is there a>ny danger in the men carrying their picks ? —There might be. ft would be a greatadvantage to the men if their picks were always taken in the boxes. 22. You were a deputy there I—Yes, for a short time. 23. Have you met with a serious accident ? —Yes, I had two fingers taken off. 24. How did that occur ?—When I was falling head coal. 25. Do you agree with the recommendation of the two previous witnesses as to the system of working ? —Yes. 26. Judging from your experience, do you think there, is anything against adopting that system ? —No, I think it would be a good system —better than the present one. 27. Why did you discontinue working as a deputy ?—I did not care for it. 28. But it is harder working on the coal ? —But you are not tied so much when working on the coal. 29. You think the responsibility is too great ? —Well, no, I did not think that, but I preferred the coal. 30. Would you prefer working in solid places to the pillars ?—Yes, working in the solid places is safer; but I have not done anything else but pillar-work, and take no notice of it now. 31. Mr. Cochrane.] Have you seen the bottom of the upcast shaft ? —Yes. 32. Were there wire-rope guides on the buckets ?—That T could not tell you. 33. Mr. Reed.] You stated that you. left the position of deputy to work at pillar-extraction ?—Yes, that was my fancy. 34. So you fancy dangerous work ?—I do not think so. 35. Nevertheless you made the change ? —Yes. 36. The Chairman.] What is the difference in pay ? —Sometimes you make more, and sometimes less. 37. Mr. Reed.] As regards the ventilation in the Kaitangata Mine, what is your opinion. ?—1 cannot say anything on the present ventilation. It is some time since I was in that mine. I am working in the Castle Hill Mine now. 38. Was that practice of taking the explosives down adopted ? —ln the morning we took down the explosives for the day. 39. So that the manager served out only the day's allowance ?—The manager has nothing to do with it; we got it from the storeman. 40. But he represents the management ? —Yes, I suppose so. 41. You asked for a day's supply ?—Yes. 42. The Chairman.] What was the average quantity taken for a day ?—About two shots —that is, eight plugs—and caps, and two lengths of fuse. 43. Have you ever left gelignite or dynamite after your shift ?—Yes, we left it for our mates. 44. And they know where it is left ? —Yes. 45. Are you aware, of your own knowledge, of that practice being known to the management ? » Well, I suppose the management would know of it. There was nothing to stop them knowing it. The management never asked us.