Report of the Coloured Labour Compound Commission appointed to enquire into the cubic amount of air-space in the compounds of the mines of the Witwatersrand.

Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report of the Coloured Labour Compound Commission appointed to enquire into the cubic amount of air-space in the compounds of the mines of the Witwatersrand. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE COLOURED LABOUR COMPOUND COMMISSION APPOINTED TO ENQUIRE INTO THE Cubic Amount of Air-space to be allocated to each Coloured Labourer in the Compounds of the Mines of the Witwatersrand Area (Government Notice No. 909 of 1904.) FIRST SITTING. Tuesday, ()th August, 1904. PRESENT ; Dr. Adam Jameson, Commissioner of Lands, Chairman. Surgeon-General J. Dallas Edge. | Dr. C. Lane Sansom Sir Kendal Franks. I Dr. Geo. Turner. Dr. James Moir, Secretary. The Commission met in Room 27, New Government Buildings, Pretoria. The Chairman read the Commission of His Excellency the Lieutenant-Governor of the Transvaal. He pointed out that such questions as ventilation and its effects on the efficiency of labourers could only be decided by scientific men, and that the constitution of the Commission was very satisfactory from this point of view. The Chairman remarked that the Commission was aware that the Transvaal Medical Society had reported on the question before the Commission, and that it was necessary to have official cognizance of the actual accommodation at present available, or proposed, for coloured labourers. Resolved, that witnesses be heard on behalf of the Medical Society and of the Chamber of Mines. Resolved, that existing compounds of good and bad character be visited. Resolved, that the Commission obtain independent analyses of the air in the newer type of compound huts. Resolved, that the Secretary of the Commission be appointed as their analyst,, and that the Chamber of Mines be asked to appoint one or more analysts to accompany him in sampling and analysis, these nominees to be approved of by the Commission. The Commission discussed the question of what is the proper standard of respiratory impurity (carbon dioxide) to be adopted. Resolved, to obtain full information about the structure of the newer types of hut. The Commission deliberated. Arrangements were made for visiting mine compounds on Friday, 12th August, and the Commission adjourned to that date. ]Uinutes of Proceedings. 9 Aug., 1904.