C—2

Two certified copies of lost or destroyed certificates were issued pursuant to section 55, Coal-mines Act, 1925. The Board cancelled one partial pass for Fireman-deputy's Certificate, the holderhaving failed to complete the full examination within the period of years allowed. Mr. J. W. Glendenning, who resigned from the Board on his appointment to a managerial position in Australia, was succeeded by Mr. P. M. Outhwaite, who was appointed for a term of three years as from the Ist April, 1948. Mr. A. Curlew, whose appointment expired at the end of June, 1948, was reappointed for a term of three years as from the Ist July, 1948. During the year it was found necessary to appoint examiners for Underviewers' and Firemen-deputies' Certificates as under : {a) For North Auckland district: Mr. J. Hadcroft, vice Mr. J. Makinson, resigned. (b) For Westport district: Mr. A. Openshaw, vice Mr. J. W, Glendenning, resigned. At the annual meeting held at the beginning of December, 1948, the Board considered certain amendments to the Mining Regulations, as proposed by the Board _of Examiners under the Mining Act, to provide for the training of students in mining industrial law and business management, and were of the opinion that similar steps should be taken to raise the standard of the examinations for Mine-managers' Certificates under the Coal-mines Act. The Board recommended to the Mines Department that appropriate action be taken. In my last report I mentioned that the Board had submitted to the Hon. Minister of Mines a report setting out the steps which the Board considered should be taken to improve the technical education of intending mine-managers. The Board's recommendations were briefly as follows : (1) That a Professor in Coal-mining be appointed to lecture at the Otago University School of Mines, and that a four-year course in coal-mining, leading to the degree of B.E. (Mining), be instituted at the School. (2) That up to six bursaries, tenable for four years at the Otago School of Mines, be awarded annually to suitable applicants. It was suggested that a Board be appointed to make a selection from candidates having a University Entrance standard of education, with an age limit of twenty years, except in the case of students already taking terms in mining subjects at Otago or other New Zealand University colleges, whose time at the University in mining-course subjects might be added to the age limit. (3) That on the completion of the course covered by the bursary the student to be employed at a State coal-mine as junior mining engineer on a salary, and there to receive training in mining and mine-management. At the end of the period of training he should be able to satisfy the Board as to his practical ability and to qualify for the First-class Colliery Manager's Certificate by examination. (4) That two annual post-graduate scholarships of £5OO plus travelling-expenses be awarded to selected trainees, who would be required to undergo practical training in modern coal-mining at overseas mines to be selected by the Mines Department and to give regular reports on their work. All trainees to enter into an agreement to remain in the service of the Mines Department of New Zealand or a New Zealand School of Mines for five years after the completion of their training. The Board feels that candidates of the right type and trained on the above lines would develop into outstanding coal-mining engineers and that within a few years their work would prove of immense advantage to the coal-mining industry of the Dominion.

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