C.—.4.

124

I.T. CHAFEIiMOW.

45. It has been suggested that pillar-extraction be done on the day-wage system : do you contend that the whole of the mine should be worked on that system, with a view to minimizing accidents?— Yes. 46. The Chairman.] With regard to the extended powers for check, inspectors, would you be in favour of their submitting themselves to examination?— No. 1 think, if they have a good general knowledge and plenty of practical experience, that should serve the purpose. 47. But you ask for the power to stop a place, and in stopping that place you take on yourself the responsibility of deciding that it is dangerous. Do you not think that if you want that power that it is only fair that you should show by passing an examination that you are qualified to decide the matter I—l think the check inspector would show that he is qualified by being appointed. 48. How?- -Well, they would not appoint a man who did not have the qualification. 49. Well, a deputy or fireman lias to undergo an examination. What you want, practically, is to put the check inspector against the fireman. Do you not think lie should pass some examination, and be on the same level from a technical point of view as the man against whom he is pitted? —Not necessarily. Because the fireman or deputy has a certificate it is not to say that lie is the cleverest. There is no time specified that he shall have served before he applies for a ticket, and the other man might have a good general knowledge in any work about the mine. 50. But may not the deputy have the game practical knowledge as the other man, but not have the certificate as well to show that lie is competent?— Well, J would not exchange views with a lot of them. 51. But you are one of the check inspectors, and if that power is given to all check inspectors what is going to show that they have any technical knowledge?—l think it should be left to the men; they would not appoint check inspectors who are not competent. 52. If a man is competent he should not have any difficulty in passing the examination?— But there are lots of things in a deputy's examination which he does not bother about —such as first aid, for instance. 53. You do not recommend the examination? —No. 1 omitted to state that 1 consider we should have back travelling-roads independent of the main haulage-road. Also, in regard to the ropes, 1 think the ropes are run rather too fast at times. There should be a speed-limit for haulage-ropes. With the present rate of running a lad might lose his hand or fingers. 54. Mr. Dowgray.~\ What limit would you suggest? —About two miles and a half an hour. 55. Have you any idea of the speed they go now?—No, unfortunately, I have not; but it appears that the} 7 go too fast for a boy. 56. Is that the cause of accidents? —Well, it might prevent an accident if the speed was limited and uniform. 57. The Chairman.] Can you ascertain the present average speed? Can you ascertain what would be considered an excessive speed for a rope to travel at? —Later i could do so arid send it on to the Commission. JAMBS FISHBB sworn and examined. (No. 49.) 1. The Chairman.\ What are you? —A miner, and president of the Denniston Coal-miners" Union. 2. How many years' experience have you had as a miner? —Twenty years. 3. Where? —Mostly here. 4. Are you a check inspector? —No. 5. Do you occupy any office in the mine? —No. 6. What matters do you wish to bring before the Commission? —I would like to go into the whole of the matters generally. 7. You have heard the evidence of the last witness : do you corroborate it generally?— Yes. 8. Do you want to add anything to what he has said? —In regard to the check inspectors, I consider that they should be paid by the Government, and they should have the power to stop a place if they considered it necessary to do so. 0. What do you think of the examination question ? —I would not listen to it at all. 10. If you want them to be paid by the Government, and be practically Government servants in the pay "of the State, why should they not qualify themselves by examination? —1 do not go much on a ticket myself. There are some who have tickets whom I would be very sorry to make check, inspectors. 11. But the miners would still have the right to appoint their check inspectors. Supposing it was arranged so that, before the paid the check inspectors, they must pass an examination equivalent, say, to the deputy's examination? —No, I would not have that ai all. 12 Have you anything further to advance? —We have had to stop a place before. We had no power to do so, but we did, because it was unsafe. 13 Have you anything to say in regard to ventilation further than was said by the last witness?— No. . 14. Mr. Doivgray.] You said that you have had occasion to stop a-place. t<or what reason i — Because it was dangerous. 15. The roof was dangerous?— Yes. 16. Did the company have any objection to your stopping it? —No. It closed shortly after we stopped it. 17. So that your views were accepted on that occasion ? —Yes. 18. Mr. Fletcher.] Did you report that dangerous place to the manager?— Yes, the check inspectors did so on two or three occasions. 19 The Chairman.] Have you anything to say on prevention of accidents? —I think the whole mine should be on shift work.