C.—2

APPENDIX C.

REPORT OF BOARDS OF EXAMINERS. Geological Survey Office, Wellington, 19th August, 1935. Sir, — On behalf of the Boards of Examiners under the Mining and Coal-mines Acts, I have the honour to submit the following brief report on the work of the Boards during 1934 : — The annual examination of candidates for mine-managers' certificates under the Coal-mines Act, 1925, was held at Huntly, Reefton, Westport, Greymouth, and Dunedin on the 23rd October and two following days. In addition, candidates were examined at the same places, with the exception of Reefton, for mine-surveyors' certificates under the Coal-mines Act. Three examinations were held for candidates who desired to obtain underviewers' and firemendeputies' certificates —one at Dunedin on the 3rd and 4th October, one at Greymouth on the 21st and 22nd November, and one at Huntly on the 27th November. The total of all candidates sitting the various examinations was the same as last year, but, comparing the total with three years ago, the number who sat last year shows a considerable falling off and reflects the position of the coal industry to-day. The continued activity on the metal-mining side of the industry resulted in the number of candidates who sat for mine-managers' and battery superintendents' certificates during the previous two years again being maintained this year, while an increasing number of candidates are coming forward for dredgemasters' certificates. Examinations of candidates for mine-managers' certificates under the Mining Act, 1926, were held at Waihi, Reefton, and Dunedin on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th October, while on the same dates candidates were examined at Waihi and Reefton for battery superintendents' certificates. An examination was also held at Dunedin and Greymouth on the 14th November for those candidates who desired to obtain dredgemasters' certificates. Several applications for certificates by exchange were also dealt with. Apart from the several amendments to the Mining Act dealing with the Board's procedure and the consequential amendments of the regulations, there is nothing that calls for special mention. The following is a summary of the various examinations and the results obtained : —

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Number oi Candidates. Number^Certiflcates Act and Examination. gy Examined. Passed. Partial Pass. Exam ®J ation . Recognized Credentials. 1. Coal-mines Act, 1925 — Mine-manager's certificate — (a) First class — Written examination 10 \ 2 Oral examination . . 3 J" (b) Second class — Written examination 8\ g j g Oral examination . . 7 f Underviewer's certificate .. .. 11 5 .. 5 Fireman-deputy's certificate .. 31 14 14 14 Mine-surveyor's certificate — Written examination .. .. 6\ 2 2 Oral examination .. .. 2/ 2. Mining Act, 1926 — Mine-manager's certificate — First class — Written examination .. 4\ 1 9 1 Oral examination .. 5 f Battery superintendent's certificate — Written examination .. 4\ g g Oral examination .. .. 3/ Dredgemaster's certificate — Class A 6 3 .. 3 Class B.. .. •• 4 4 .. 4 Class B certificate (by exchange) 2 2 .. .. 2