C—l 4

142

F. REED

1399. But this does not apply to this particular section—that only applies to workings other than pillars I -That is true, but in the clause you are dealing with the first decision is given by the Inspector, and if it is objected to it is finally referred to the Inspecting Engineer. You would get permission to carry on work until the question was decided. MOO. i would like to know what you are going to do if you cannot keep the coal up ?— You will be treated fairly. [do not think it is a very hard rule. 1401.. Who takes the responsibility under section 60 of the Coal-mines Act ? Supposing a responsible manager knows his mine well he may know it is impossible to comply with that section. If he is instructed by the Inspector, or the Warden, or the Inspecting Engineer to do a certain thing he may be quite sure in his own mind that it is a very dangerous practice. Can you imagine the feelings of that manager if a man gets injured as the result of that practice, after he (the manage]-) has objected to it all along I lam not prepared to debate that point. This is a very well-established provision. 1 402. I am afraid that ail. mining men, and working-men too, will view that clause with alarm ?- The I nspeetor is not the final arbiter. The matter may come before the Minister and the Inspecting Engineer. 1403. In regard to this schedule of special rules applicable to a coal-mine, No. 3 («) in the Bill, in it not rather foolish to put trailers on behind the empty trucks going up a jig ?—lt does bo harm, and it might do good; it saves one of the tubs, and might also save life. 1404. 1 think you said it applied to mines nearly all over the world ?— The trailer is nearly always used on all haulage inclines. 1405. Can you tell me whether it applies to jigs in other parts of the world ?—I do not know any mine that I have been connected with out of New Zealand where they have jigs. In Durham they have no jigs. I think it is a very good provision. 1406. Is it not a fact that some of the most disastrous explosions in the world's history have occurred in mines that have been supposed to be the best equipped and the best managed ?- There have been explosions in such mines. 1407. You will remember the explosion at the Oourrierres Mine, in France, in 1911. Was it not classed as a model mine as to equipment and management ?—I do not know. 1408. Mr. Dowgray.] There has been a lot of evdience as to whether a mine-manager was obliged to report to the Mines an exudation of gas. You will probably have noticed that there is provision in the British Act to compel a manager to report all ignitions of gas. It says, " Where, in or about any mine, whether above or below ground, any accident occurs which either is caused by an explosion of gas, or coaldust, or any explosive, or by electricity, or by overwinding, or by any other such cause as the Secretary of State specifies by order, and causes any personal injury whatever to any person employed in or about the mine ; the owner, agent, or manager of the mine shall forthwith send notice in writing of the accident, or of any loss of life or personal injury caused thereby, to the Inspector of the division, in such form and accompanied by such particulars as may be prescribed, and, in the case of an accident causing loss of life or serious personal injury, notice in such form and accompanied by such particulars as may be prescribed shall also be sent to the person (if any) nominated by the persons employed at the mine for the purpose of receiving notice under this section on their behalf " ?— Yes, they have to be reported according to the British Act. 1409. That would do-away with a lot of trouble if we had such a section in our Act ?- Yes. 1410. Do you think similar provision could be put into the new Bill?— Yes, it would be a most excellent thing, but I think the new Bill provides for that by enabling us by regulation to require managers to report these matters. Ml 1. It is better to have it in the statute —everything would be then reported ? — Yes. Robert Cumming, Labourer, sworn and examined. (No. 15.) 1. Mr. Wilford. | What are you, Mr. dimming ? -I was a miner for twenty-two years ; 1 have been a navvy since then -for the last two years. 2. Did you at one time work in Ralph's Mine ? — Yes, I was there for six years. 3. Up till two years ago ? —Yes. 4. Did you ever know of any gas-explosion happening while you were there ?—I knew of one- — in the little dip section, No. 2 bord. 5. About how long ago ?—About five years ago. 6. Was Mr. Wight manager at that time ?—Yes. 7. You can speak of an explosion of gas taking place in that particular mine ?—Yes. 8. How do you know ?—When I went up to the bench, after crib time, gas exploded and burned my head and face. 9. Then I may take it that five years ago, when you were working there, there was an explosion of gas in Ralph's Mine, which caused you personal injury ?—Yes. 10. Mr. Tunks.] Can you indicate whereabouts that was ? In the little dip section, No. 2 bord. 11. Can you show it on the plan ? Was it along the winch-level ?- Straight in from the horse level, where the heading opened up into the bord. 12. Was it on the right or the left ?—- On the left from the horse-road. 13. How long were you incapacitated ?.—I was away from work only that afternoon. We were sent away. 14. The deputy stopped you from working there ?—Yes, the ventilation was carried in, and the next day there was no gas in the place. L 5. And you went back next day ?—Yes. 16. Is that the only gas you have seen there ?—No. I remember when we were working in a heading from No. 7to No. 5 there was gas to be occasionally seen. We had to keep the ventilation close up. There was a continuous bleeding.