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1249. Have you any reason to doubt it ?—Not so far as looks go. 1250. This North Brunner Mine—what is it like ?—I have been over the ground, and seen only the outcrop. It is up above Stoney Creek, by Langden's. I suppose it is a continuation to the rise of the Brunner Mine. 1251. Have you any notion of which way it dips?—lt dips the opposite way. 1252. It is an anticline ?—Yes. 1253. Have you been down about the Coal Creek outcrops or the Nine-mile ?—Yes. 1254. And back in the hills ? —Yes. I did not, however, get right back to the main ranges. 1255. Do you think there is a large extent of coal measures? —Yes; on the Seven-mile there are some grand seams, on Taylor's and Smith's leases. 1256. What do you think of Mr. Smith's seam ?—I think Mr. Smith's would be a very fair lease. If there was a harbour there it would be a grand thing for them. 1257. Do you think all the coal is worked out yet? —In the event of any one applying for a lease, I think they should not be granted more than 1,000 acres. There is a limited quantity of coal, and I think 1,000 acres would be a sufficient area for each lease. 1258. Also in the case of amalgamation ? —Amalgamations should not be allowed. 1259. Would you not make provision for amalgamation when it would afford greater facilities for working ?—What I mean to say is that I do not believe in the amalgamation of ten leases or so. 1260. Is all the population of Brunnerton connected with the union? —Yes, I think you may say the majority are connected with the union, wdth the exception, of course, of a few business people. 1261. That is the Amalgamated Miners' and Labourers' Union ? —Yes. 1262. Mr. Moody.] Were the labourers here compelled to go into the union—l mean the day-wages men, not the miners ?—They were not compelled, but of course it was a matter of principle. They were asked to join. I think myself, in connection with the union, that there should be a board of conciliation appointed to settle mining disputes, consisting of, say, two employers and two miners. 1263. Is there anything to prevent that being done now ? Such a thing would not be illegal, I suppose ? —No, Ido not think so. I think it would be by mutual agreement now; but it is not compulsory. 1264. Do you think it would be an advantage to make such a thing compulsory ? —I think it would be best if it was mutually agreed on by both parties. Under the present circumstances, I think, perhaps, such a board would be able to facilitate matters. 1265. Have you thought out the constitution of such a thing ?—I have not thought it out thoroughly. I am merely giving it as my opinion that it would have a tendency to avoid any unpleasantness generally. Both parties should be represented by two delegates, with an umpire to act as a referee. 1266. Mr. Brown.] How could it be made compulsory ?—I would leave it to be mutual between the two parties. 1267. But the way is open for that now?— Yes; and has been all along. In fact, a question was submitted last year to arbitration. 1268. A board of conciliation was virtually appointed then with regard to prices ?—Yes. 1269. There was an umpire also appointed who was not referred to ?—Yes; that was Major Kadell. 1270. Then, the miners did not accept that decision ?—The decision of that Board was rejected by a very small majority. 1271. Was not their majority in favour of the decision by one?—No; there was a majority against the decision, and of course the minority is always ruled by the majority. 1272. The Chairman.] What is the condition of the miners at present ? Are they feeling the effects of this protracted struggle very much ?—I rather think they are—at least, some of them are feeling it very badly. But they are still disposed to hang out to their own fare of it, on a matter of principle. 1273. Mr. Brown.] Can you tell us what that principle is—the principle of unionism ?—I may say that, so far as Mr. Kennedy is concerned, as an employer of labour, I have no reason to complain of him, nor of the management. 1274. The principle in this case was the loading of the Union Steamship Company's boats ?— Yes. 1275. It was not a question of wages ?—No, not at all; that had been settled. Of course, we were waiting the decision of this Commission. 1276. So that the present strike is really on behalf of the Maritime Council ? —Yes. 1277. And the principle is that the one party support the other?— Yes. 1278. Do they always do so?—I believe so; but this is the first strike I have ever been in. 1279. There was a strike here previously, at Brunnerton : did the seamen go out on that occasion ?—I think they promised that if they were called upon they would block the coal; that was on the matter of principle. 1280. Every one, of course, that reads the newspapers sees and hears a great deal about principle ; so I wanted to ascertain what the real principle was. So far as I understand, the principle is mutual support between those who are in the affiliated unions, and the non-admission of non-union labourers to the same employment ?—Yes. 1281. Has not that a tendency to form a sort of guild of the miners and the seamen ?—No, I should think not, inasmuch as no person may come into the mine without first having had to earn some experience. A man requires an apprenticeship before he can take charge of any place. Suppose you w r ere to take any of these men to do any sort of work, they would be no good. In