Minutes of evidence taken before the Royal Commission on metalliferous mines and quarries : volume 1.

  • Great Britain. Royal Commission on Metalliferous Mines and Quarries.
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Minutes of evidence taken before the Royal Commission on metalliferous mines and quarries : volume 1. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    60/406 page 52
    7 July 1910.] Mr. J. S. Martin. [Continued. desirable that notice to the inspector of the district keirt up within three or six months. That should he should be given in all cases of commencement of mining, the requirement . where sinking, with a view to working mineral, is done, 1563. These provisions as to plans are even more or where working in from the surface or shaft under important than in the case of coal mines ?—No, one is cover is done. It would be well to define a mine to quite as important as the other. distinguish it from a quarry, as, for example, “any “ shaft, or underground works for the purpose of “ working any mineral in which artificial light is “ required,” or some such definition. That seems a satisfactory definition from my experience, and is what I have followed, where artificial light is required, that should be considered a mine ; where open daylight is found, that should be considered an open quarry. 1557. There is an old judicial decision to that effect ?—I am not prepared to say ; I do not remember it; it may be from that my information came, but I cannot fix it. It is also desirable to provide for notice being given of any cessation of work for three months, which might be deemed abandonment for the purposes of the Act. 1558. The present difficulty is that you often do not know whether a mine is abandoned or not ?—That is so; further on I make a reference to that. This would not interfere with the resumption of work at any time, notice of which should be given. I have known a case where a mine has been alleged to be suspended and not abandoned for 12 years. The result was that no plans could be demanded as record plans, and ultimately when it was brought to a crisis the plans could not be found, therefore they were lost. Notice of the change of owners, managers, or name of mine should be provided for, and not limited to where twelve persons are employed. Exploration is a point, under metal- liferous mining, which has to be allowed for to a certain extent, because if you are costeening, for example, that is, sinking through the surface and trying to get on top of a lode, a yard or two, that might not necessarily require notice to be given, but still it could do no harm. If the three months’ cessation of work were taken to constitute abandon- ment, plans would not be lost, as is the case at present, in consequence of “ suspended ” being indefinite. The period within which the plan can be demanded after abandonment should be in no way limited. Under the Metalliferous Mines Act it has to be sent in within three months after abandonment. Under the Coal Mines Act an inspector can at any time require a plan to be sent in, but if he overlooks the fact that it has not been received within three months after he has asked for it he cannot afterwards compel it. It is lost unless it is given as a matter of grace. .Receivers or liquidators of companies should be required to supply record plans, returns, notices, and if carrying on the mines, to have all the responsibilities of ownership. 1559. As far as plans are concerned, you mean ?— And working. At present when a receiver or liquidator enters upon the scene there is no one responsible. 1560. He is not an owner, on the one hand, and yet is supposed to be working the mine on the other ?— Yes. Provision for the keeping of plans of all mines is desirable, and it should be required that working plans with longitudinal and cross sections on a scale of not less that whatever may be fixed upon should be kept in a complete and proper manner, and that in addition the workings should be laid down on the Ordnance sheet of 25 inches to the mile where such maps are completed, or otherwise on a map of not less than that scale prepared for the purpose, showing sufficient of the country around to allow of the location of the mine being readily fixed. 1561. That is of great importance. It would render identification easy and save people from making useless prospecting in future years ?—That is so. At present we have, esiiecially in olden times, plans of mines which, unless some of the old shafts can be recognised, would be absolutely worthless. They might be in the North of England, as far as the reference is concerned, or in Cornwall. 1562. This state of things of course involves a loss to everybody ?—Yes; they would be useless. All plans should be made and maintained in a neat and proper condition as well as accurate. I think they ought to be 1564. The abandoned ones, I mean?—No, I think one is quite as important as the other. The Act should in the context specify that plans and sections are required, so that there could be no misunderstanding about it. As at present prescribed it does not strike the eye that sections are required. The Act at present requires plans and sections to be kept; that is, a plan of the working's and a section of the workings, but it is not directly self-evident. I think the Act ought to specify that it requires both longitudinal and cross sections in words. Then the requirements as to record plans for the Home Office should be set out at length. I would here point out that in the Coal Mines Act the record plans are required to be certified as being correct, but that is after the mine has been stopped, and therefore there is no means of checking them, although the Act does provide for correct plans being kept. I think there is an anomaly there on that point. 1565. That covers all you have to say about mining returns and plans. What have you to say about the employment of boys on pit banks ?—It is absurd that on a pit bank a boy may be employed under different conditions and a different Act from another boy in the same employ, on the dressing floors 40 or 50 yards away. 1566. There ought to be uniformity as to the employment of these boys?—Yes. The section as to payment of wages in public-houses, defining'• wages,” see the Stannaries Act, 1883, known as Conybeare's Act, in Cornwall. 1567. What have you to say about that ?—It re- quires a little amplification. 1568. Now with the regard to second outlets to metalliferous mines, and second shafts. In the case of coal, as soon as the mere finding of the coal is done, when working is commenced, you have to have two shafts ?—Yes—that is for working. 1569. How far would similar provisions be avail- able for matalliferous mines ?— It is a more or less difficult question, but might be made subject to the requirement of the Secretary of State, and perhaps be referable to arbitration. At present the Act does not provide for it or give power to require one. I do not think you can lay down in metalliferous mining a specific time when a second shaft should be required, or can- be required. 1570. The reason of that is that the position of the lodes of metal is not so well known as coal?—They are not so regular. 1571. And employment is much more uncertain? —Yes. 1572. Evidence was given by a former witness to the effect that where necessary and possible the power ought to be given to demand an inquiry?- I think so. I think that might rest with the Secretary of State. 1573. The matter to go to arbitration in case of dispute?—And if demanded and opposed, it would be referable to arbitration. 1574. Now with regard to the responsibility of a manager of a metalliferous mine. There is no pro- vision for a certificated manager at present ?—No. 1575. Ought there to be, in your opinion?—I think the time has come when a manager’s responsibility should be recognised and defined. 1576. For the big mines you would have a certificated manager ?—Certificates should be granted recoginsing manager’s qualifications, and this might be arranged for. considering the present day opportunities fox- study, by a qualifying examination in scientific subjects combined with practical experience, either at home or abroad, if satisfactory to the Secretary of State. I think the practical expei'ience should not be confined to at home, becausg a very large number of our metalliferous mining men go abroad and have not got an opportunity of employment in this country ; there- fore, if the practical experience abroad could be shown to be satisfactory to the Secretary of State. I think it ought to be taken into account.
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