o.—w

1927. NEW ZEALAND.

DOBSON COLLIERY DISASTER (REPORT OF ROYAL COMMISSION ON).

Laid on the Table of the House of Representatives by Leave.

COMMISSION. COMMISSION TO INQUIRE INTO AND REPORT UPON COLLIERY DISASTER AT DOBSON. Charles Fergusson, Governor-General. To all to whom these presents shall come, and to Edward Page, Esquire, of Wellington, Stipendiary Magistrate; John Watson, Esquire, of Huntly, Mine-manager ; and William Balderstone, Esquire, of Blackball, Miner: Greeting. Whereas an explosion occurred on the third day of December, one thousand nine hundred and twenty-six, at the coal-mine at Dobson known as the Dobson Mine, the property of the Grey Valley Colleries, Limited, which caused the death of nine persons working therein : And whereas it is expedient that a Commission should be issued for the purpose of inquiring into the cause of the said explosion, and into the working of the existing law in respect to the prevention of such explosions, and for the other purposes hereinafter mentioned : Now, therefore, know ye that I, General Sir Charles Fergusson, Baronet, Governor-General of the Dominion of New Zealand, reposing trust and confidence in your knowledge, integrity, and ability, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, do hereby, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the Commissions of Inquiry Act, .1908, and of all other powers and authorities enabling me in this behalf, constitute and appoint you, the said Edward Page, John Watson, and William Balderstone to be a Commission for the purpose of making inquiry into the matters hereinbefore referred to, and into the several other matters mentioned in these presents, that is to say, — (1) To inquire in what part or parts of the mine the explosion first started, and the nature of the same. (2) To inquire how the explosion was initiated. (3) To inquire to what extent the provisions of the Coal-mines Act, 1925, were complied with in the mine, and more especially as regards (a) The examination of the mine ; (6) ventilation ; (c) lighting ; (d) the character of explosives used, the preparation of shots, and the method of firing shots ; (e) prevention and treatment of inflammable dust; (/) use of electricity underground.