0.—14.

140

[p. REED.

1350. Re Special Rule No. 3 in the schedule to the Bill, on page 15 : '' A backstay or trailer shall be attached to each ascending tub, or set of tubs, on every inclined haulage road where mechanical haulage other than endless rope or chain is used." The ascending tubs are the empty ones ?—Yes. 1351. The idea is to stop that tub incase of a breakage. What to happen to the full tub ? —A trailer would be useless to it, but one would Jsave the empty tub. If you have two horses bolting it is better to save one than lose both. I think the section is plain enough. 1352. What do you understand by an inclined haulage-road ? Does that include a main jig ?— I take it that it applies to a jig. 1353. And you are quite satisfied that the section is all right ?—lt saves the empties, but you may not be able to save the others. It may also save life. 1354. It could have no possible effect on a full truck ?—Not a bit, as the full track or tub is descending the incline. 1355. And a full truck can go out and you cannot stop it ?—No. 1356. Mr. Macassey.] Will you define the duties and responsibilities of an Inspector of Mines. 1 think that was laid down by the British Royal Commission on Mines, 1906. Will you please read it ?— This is the report of the British Royal Commission on Mines, 1906 (page 38). I may say this is the highest authority as regards coal-mining. All the modern coal-mining Acts of the British dominions are framed more or less upon its recommendations. " Inspections by Firemen and Deputies, and Inspection of Mines.—The responsibility for the supervision of men underground rests with the manager and under-manager and the various grades of subordinate officials. As the conditions of a mine from the point of view of safety may vary every hour, the principle of systematic inspection is a most necessary one, and this is entrusted principally to the important class of officials known as firemen or deputies (in South Wales also called examiners). The inspections made by these officials are to be sharply distinguished from those made by the Government Inspectors, who are appointed to see that the Acts and rules are being observed by the owners and management, or from the periodical inspections made by the men under General Rule 38, in order to satisfy themselves that the conditions prevailing in a particular mine are such as to ensure their safety. The direct responsibility for the safety of the mine is placed not on the Government, but on the owners and the management, who have to see that the systematic inspection by firemen is properly carried out." That is the highest authority on that subject. 1357. That means that the duties of the Inspector are confined to seeing that the Act and regulations are observed ? —Yes. 1358. It is not the duty of the Inspector to direct as to how the mining operations are to be carried on ?—No. 1359. You know Mr. Bennie, Inspector of Mines ?—Yes. 1360. I think he won the gold medal at the Waihi School of Mines ?—He did. 1361. He is a very experienced man in mining matters ?—Yes. 1362. He has had some forty-seven years both coal- and gold-mining in England, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand ?—Yes. 1363. And would you describe him, Mr. Reed, as a very careful and capable Inspector of Mines ? —Yes. 1364. And an Inspector who diligently performs his duties as far as you are aware ?—Yes. 1365. And you have no reason to think that his reports are not true and faithfully written ?—No. 1366. It is his duty to receive directions from the Under-Secretary, and to report to the Undersecretary ?—Yes. 1367. And I think that he makes a monthly report to the Under-Secretary for Mines in regard to his visits to the various mines under his jurisdiction ?—Yes. 1368. And you see his reports as they come to hand at the Head Office ?—I believe so. 1369. He has reported every month as to the conditions existing in the Taupiri mines ?—Yes, recently. 1370. I think he has only reported in regard to Ralph's Mine one case of burning by gas—Kelly's case ?—Yes, as far as I am aware. 1371. He has reported also that he found small accumulations of gas in the old workings ? —Yes. 1372. He never found any accumulations in the existing workings ?—Perhaps so. 1373. And you believe him ?—Yes. 1374. And whatever small accumulations he found in the old workings were cleared away ?—1 d<> not know that. He said the Inspectors took a week to go round the old workings. 1375. You think he has reported truthfully everything that he has found I—Yes. 1376. Letters have been put in which show Mr. Bennies recommendations in regard to Ralph's Mine, and his suggestions in regard to the appointment of shot-firers and the watering of the coaldust ? —They are very wise recommendations. He did these things on his own account, without any suggestion from me or anybody else, as far as I am aware. 1377. I want to clear up this official file. The Under-Secretary wrote to Mr. Bennie for a report, on 4th August, as per the letter which has already been put in and quoted. Mr. Bennie in reply, under date 7th August (in a memorandum which has already been put in and quoted in full), stated that he could not recommend that safety-lamps only should be used in these mines for two reasons which he sets out in full. That was, of course, before it was ascertained how highly inflammable the coaldust in the mine was ?—That is true. 1378. That letter was referred to you by the Under-Secretary for Mines, and you recommended that Inspector Bennie should be authorized to consult a reliable solicitor, and if the Department was considered to have a fair chance of securing a conviction proceedings were to be instituted, and you would go north to assist the Inspector ?—Yes.