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impossible to timber those bords. Therefore there is great risk in working these pillars, and we advocate that in the solid the work should be carried on by that method—with lower bords, say 7 ft. or 8 ft. high. Then, as to brushing, we find some complaint as to the width of the places ; for instance, there are some places where the men are extracting pillars which are only 5 ft. or 6 ft. wide. If an inrush of debris happened they have to rush and push the box away as quickly as they can. I would advocate that the brushing in all working-places and also in trucking-roads should be brushed up to a height of say 6 ft. or 7 ft. I must also say we would like to see higher props ; at present they are only about 8 ft. There should be longer temporary props supplied and kept in the workings. Then there is the matter of the drawing of the props. There was an accident which happened in connection with that class of work. The shift before had advised the man to draw a prop and set it up behind ; whether he did so or not we have no evidence to prove, but we contend there should be a deputy with these men on the night shift. There were none up till the time this accident occurred. Then, in regard to check inspectors. We can only make an inspection once a month, and we. cannot go down to inquire into complaints when they are received. Supposing there is something complained of in regard to pillarworking : a pillar might only last a few days, and if we can only go down once a month our chance of seeing the conditions complained of is gone. Then I would advocate that inquiries into accidents should bo held before a Magistrate, a mine-manager, and a representative of the union. 9. That is so now ? —But I think it says it is to be before a J.P. Then, with regard to bigger pillars, I do not think they would be suitable in our district, for under our award we work bords 12 ft. wide, and a pillar Bor 10 yards would be too great to carry. We have only a bit of fireclay and stone, and there is no substance in that. I think that pillars anything from 4to 6 yards is quite sufficient in our district. Then we have trouble about the delivery of the props. The provision is misconstrued to mean that the miner has to take his own prop from the lay-by. For myself I think, according to the Act, it should be the miner's working-place, because if there were twenty or thirty miners going into a lay-by the question arises as to whose place it is. I might also state that it is very difficult foi the men to unload such timber as 10 ft. blue-gum props, with two empty boxes in the lay-by and meeting the full boxes coming down. In our mine the deputy usually helps the men to unload, but when he is not there it is very hard on the miner to do it himself. 10. Do you say that the present custom is responsible for the miners neglecting timbering ?— Yes, that is the case in our mine. 11. Mr. Dowgray.] Have you ever had any difficulty in connection with the run of the strata in these pillars ?—Yes. 12. Have there been any accidents in the mine as the result of that?— Yes, some slight accidents; and I think we escape many more serious ones simply by good luck. I think the brushing I have suggested would improve matters. I think Mr. Christie made the statement yesterday that the coal was 30 ft. thick in one place. Fancy a mine like that having only one outlet ! The air is naturally very stagnant. 13. As regards sanitary arrangements, are there no pans or anything provided ? —No, there is nothing that I know of, except that lately a place has been erected outside our colliery. 14. Mr. Reed.] You recommend that pillars should be from 4 to 6 yards : under what pressure would you have these —at what depth from the surface would you have pillars with these dimensions ?— From 20 ft. up to 100 ft. We are working practically in outcrops. If you go beyond 100 ft. you would want your pillars a foot or two extra. 15. Would you have that applied generally, or are you speaking only of your mine %— I am speaking of the mines in our district." 16. How many accidents have there been in pillar-work at Green Island during the last forty years — ever since pillar-work was started in the district? —Well, I think that is a big question to answer. I cannot say. There was one man buried in Christie's No. 2 Mine ;he was got out alive, but he has not recovered his health :it is the result of the dangerous work. There are a number of small accidents where men have been of! work two or three months, but I think to get a full list you would have to go to the insurance company. 17. How long have you been mining ?—I started at eleven and lam nearly fifty now, so that makes it nearly thirty-nine years. 18. And you can remember only one fatal accident as the result of pillar-extraction ?■—Well, it is only during the last few years that pillar-extraction has come into force. 19. Is that not a good record % —I have not said there was only one accident. I have not been here all the time —I have been at Kaitangata and uf) the country. 20. If there has been only one recorded in that time, is it not a good record ?—lt is sheer luck that there are not more. I think the management and men are very lucky to escape the accidents. 21. With regard to the delivery of timber, is it not a fact that the present management has been settled by the Arbitration Court, and that under it the company pays for the removal of the timber from the lay-by ? —Not that I am aware. 22. Was not the tonnage rate raised to cover it ?—No; the only thing we have to go by is our award. 23. Was not the tonnage rate raised by the Arbitration Court to cover this ?—No ; I say not. The miners applied to the Arbitration Court for a rise in wages on account of the increased cost of living, and they were granted a rise of Id. per box on round coal. The timbering was done by the company before that, and it has since been placed on us. 24. Would you be surprised to hear that such an arrangement exists ? —Yes, I would be surprised to hear that. The reason for bringing this matter forward is because some of the men have been cautioned.