C—4.

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[j. GUMMING.

21. As regards the stopping of a place, which has been advocated at different places, you think that where the workmen's inspector finds anything that is likely to prove dangerous, and if it is not rectified, he should be allowed to stop the place until the Mining Inspector is called in?— Yes, I do. 22. You think that power is very essential? —Yes; and 1 would add that, if such a thing had to be done to wait till the Inspector came, those men should be paid by the company for the time lost by them. 23. That would be practically substituted in place of prosecuting?— Yes. 24. Mr. Beed.] In regard to the matter of baths, in the Waihi and Grand Junction Mines at Waihi they are putting up hot showers: would you approve of that in preference to bath-tubs? It does not entail so much capital expenditure, and it would not mean such an extreme cost?—Of course, where it is a case of a coal-miner versus a gold-miner, there is no comparison between the dirt on the gold-miner and that on a coal-miner. There is a great deal of difference. 25. In Germany and France showers are used, with a concrete floor? —Well, they have baths instituted in the State mine in Victoria. 26. Showers or tubs?— Bath-tubs, so 1 am informed. You go to work in your workaday clothes and come home in them. I prefer the bath. 27. In a large mine employing a hundred and fifty men on a shift, or two hundred men, that would mean two hundred tubs?—lt would, I admit. 28. And who would provide the towels? —Probably the men would provide them. They could carry them as they do their crib. 29. As regards the clothes being left behind, what you suggest is the practice in gold-mines. In regard to washing and keeping the clothes clean, who should do that? —It should be done by a scientific process by the company. 30. And the company to pay for washing the men's clothes?— lt is a big matter to go into the bed-rock of the subject. Of course, the men are willing to meet the employers, but it is no use to go into the matter until the main point is established. As far as lam concerned, I would not mind paying for them to be washed, as long as they were done away from my place. I would pay my share. The miners could contribute a certain amount towards the cost of washing the clothes. This thing emanated from the gold-mining. The companies wanted the men to change at the mine, so that they could not take away anything that did not belong to them. 31. Partly, perhaps—but in mines where there is no specimen stone. The law compels it. You know that?—Yes.

Denjvlstou (Odd Fellows' Hall). —10th October, 1911. James Newton examined. (No. 47.) 1. The Chairman.] You have some tables to put in in connection with the mines here, have you not?— Yes, I have prepared three tables showing (1) air-measurements taken on 21st and 22nd September, 1908; (2) fatal and serious accidents from 1905 to 1907; and (3) fatal and serious accidents from 1908 to September, 1911. [Exhibit 20 put in.] Johm Chapelhow sworn and examined. (No. 48.) J. The Chairman.} You are a miner?— Yes, and secretary of the Denniston Coal-miners' Union. 2. How many years' experience have you had as a miner? —About twenty-four or twenty-five. 3. Wheie? — ln Cumberland, England, and at Denniston. 4. Do you hold any office at the mines?—l am check inspector for both mines, Ironbridge and Coalbrookdale. 5. What matters do you wish to bring before the Commission? —I wish to deal with all the matters in connection with which you are inquiring, and also one or two others. 6. What have you to say in regard to ventilation? —I think that every miner should be supplied with 150 cubic feet of air at his working-face. 7. Have you anything to suggest as to a system of ventilation?—Xothing, except that each section should get its own fresh air and have its own return. 8. So that the air should not pass through another section? —Yes. 9. Now, as to sanitation? —I consider that it is absolutely essential that the truck system should be provided. 10. Do you think the truck system is the best? —Yes, by far. 11. As to bath-houses and change-houses? —I think each mine should be provided with bathhouses. 12. And each man with a separate bath?— Yes, a stall closed off. I do not see why a. miner should bath before a crowd; they do not allow it in any other place. 13. Then, have you any suggestions to make in regard to the prevention of accidents? —I would suggest that the whole of the men be on the day-wage system. 14. How would that minimize accidents? —They would not have to rush their work to make a living. 15. You blame the contract system for the rush, and consequently for the accidents : is that to be attributed to the system or the price? Supposing they got a higher price? —There would be the same incentive for the men to rush.