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above what the gear w 7 as taking out you can see how the water would gain upon it. But, still, I think they might have rubbed along even w 7 ith the present gear, and worked Kimberley, had the surface-water not been allowed to come in. 1635. You know the Brunner Mine, and the Coal-pit Heath pretty well ? —I know the Brunner Mine. 1636. How many places are there room for, supposing the men went to work now? —Thirteen places in the Brunner. 1637. And bow many in the Coal-pit Heath ? —There are ten; that is twenty-three altogether. That is above the level where the water is at present. They give the places to four men each at present. 1638. What proportion of wages-men would that employ to these ninety-two hewers?— There were about fifteen or sixteen deputies and roadmen and firemen, but I really could not give you the whole number offhanded. There are, of course, the weighmen, the boys, truckers, surfacemen, and engine-men. 1639. I mean as a whole. How many is there room for altogether ? Is there room for all that went out at the beginning of September ? —No, there is not. 1640. By how many ?—I should think there would be fully a hundred and fifty here off work. 1641. Were all these men in work when it closed?— They had to share the work, but they could not find full-time ; nothing like it. 1642. There were twenty-three places, at which ninety-two men w 7 ere working, and about an equal proportion of others employed w 7 ith them. That would be giving the full-time to each man ? —Yes. 1643. But with sharing it would possibly employ a few more ?—Yes, I dare say there would be a few 7 more employed. 1644. At short-time?— Yes; about three hundred in all by sharing, but only two hundred without sharing. 1645. Did you share week and week about?—No; it was left in the check-weighman's hands, and it was posted up who should go into the places the following day. 1646. I suppose it is dangerous for a man not accustomed to a particular place in the part of the mine to go and work there ?—A certain amount of precaution is required in all fresh places. There may be some parts dangerous, that strange men would not know about; so that they would have to go into the face with a man who knew the place. 1647. Would the overman not tell them about it?—l do not reckon that that would be quite sufficient: he should be sent in with a man of sound judgment. 1648. Going back, say, eighteen months: has there been any interruptions from disagreement before the present one ?—I could not be positive, but I do not think there has been any strike before the present one. 1649. That is to say, any disagreements there may have been did not stop the mine ?—Yes. There have been little bits of quarrels, but they were decided without a stoppage. 1650. Then the present is the only stoppage that you can remember ?—Well, there was a trouble something like this. 1651. Previous to this?— Yes. 1652. That was in July ?—lt was some time ago; I could not give you the date of it. Mr. Andrew would know more about the matter. 1653. Have you anything to do with the management of the Miners' Union here?—No; I have nothing to do with the management, but I am a member of the union. 1654. Is there usually a reference to the members when any dispute arises, or is it generallysettled by the committee? It is always managed by the members; the meetings settle everything. The committee are only a channel of communication between the employers and the men. A vote is taken on any question. 1655. Are these meetings well attended ?—lt generally depends upon the nature of the business. 1656. Was the present strike submitted to the men generally or was it arranged by the executive ?—All phases have been brought before the men. 1657. Before the decision, and not afterwards ?—The matter is brought up in this manner: The executive deal with the business first, and they draw up a recommendation, and the business is then placed before a general meeting, when it is usually discussed. The committee allow a discussion to go on before the recommendation, and it is further discussed after the recommendation, and the meeting vote. 1658. Mr. Moody.] Is this decisive ?—Yes. 1659. The Chairman.] What was the exact question submitted to the meeting on the occasion of this strike ?—I could not tell you. 1660. Mr. Brown.] I suppose there would be a motion of some kind before the meeting when they decided to go out ?—There was a communication from the Maritime Council, which was submitted to the meeting. It was discussed in committee first, and then it was submitted to the meeting. 1661. What was that communication ? —I could not tell you exactly ; but it was placed before the men, and they decided by unanimous vote to come out. 1662. W T as there any previous correspondence?—Oh, yes. 1663. What was the kind of question that was before them when the}' decided this ?—They decided not to work alongside non-union labour. 1664. Had you been called upon to work with non-union labourers?— Not locally. 1664 a. Then, was it in the nature of a report that in other places men had been called upon to work with non-union men?— Yes ; that led up to it from tho other side, when the employers were. pressing to engage non-union labour. 16—C. 3.