April 11, 1913. THE COLLIERY GUARDIAN. 745 rule that if a person is undercutting coal at a depth of 3 ft. his lamp must be down as near the floor as possible, in order that he may see to cut the coal. They suggest a special rule for each district. 14.—The Miners’ Federation propose, in connection with this rule, which compels! the dosing of doors, &c., that “ flaps ” should be abolished and self-closing doors substituted for them. 17 (a).—In this regulation, which refers to the removal of shaft-fences and signalling in the shaft, the owners and managers seek to make it clear that it applies only to “ mouthings,” and not to the top and bottom of the shaft. 18.—This applies to trains for the conveyance of workmen, and the Miners' Federation urge that it should not include long-distance trains under the control of a railway company. They also contend that on each underground train there should be a specially appointed guide. 19 (a).—The owners ask that the obligation be imposed upon the person m charge of a horse to return the animal to the horsekeeper at the stable at the end of the shift. 19 (b).—The managers seek to extend the prohibition against riding animals to vehicles drawn by them. 20.—The owners would make it an offence to ride on any haulage rope. The regulation, as drafted, prohibits anyone from going in front of a tub when putting on inclines of more than 1 in 12 ; but the South Stafford- shire owners contend that the rule cannot be carried out in a thick coal seam, particularly in “openings ” or in roads where the floor has been lifted by a “ bump.” The Miners’ Federation, however, would get over this difficulty by prohibiting all hand drawing where it is impossible to control the tub from behind. 22. —Both owners and managers desire to extend the regulation to damage due to “ negligent ” as well as “ wilful ” acts. 23. —This regulation imposes upon the workman injured by any of the causes specified under section 80 (1) (ii.) of the Act to report the occurrence. The owners and managers would apply it to all cases of injury from such causes—not merely those leading to a cessation of work. The Miners’ Federation, on the other hand, would like the rule to be deleted or limited to injuries caused by explosions, explosives, electricity, or overwinding. It is also suggested that the injured workman should, if required, proceed at once to the appointed place for first aid treatment. 24. The owners and managers urge that the following new paragraphs should be inserted at the end of this regulation. “ Should any workperson get into firedamp he shall not throw away his lamp nor attempt to blow it out, but shall shelter it, hold the lamp near the floor, avoid jerking it, and take it steadily into the fresh air. If the gas fires in the lamp where he cannot take it into fresh air, he shall smother out the light or extinguish it in water. “ No person in a place of trust shall depute another to do his work without the sanction of his superior officer; and no person in a place of trust shall absent himself without legitimate cause, or having previously obtained the permission of his superior officer for his term of absence. “No person shall pass under the cages whilst the cages are in motion. “ Every person, before engaging any helper, drawer, or other assistant shall acquaint the manager, under- manager (if any), overman or master-shifter, and obtain his sanction. “ No person, unless authorised, shall interfere with the roof or sides of any place in the mine, or interfere with or alter any timber set to support the roof or sides, or any ventilating door, regulator, brattice, switch, means of signalling, or other appliance; and no person shall prop or fasten back any door on its hinges. “ Every workman using a safety lamp shall examine the same externally, and assure himself that it is locked and in good order before entering the mine or passing the appointed lamp station, and if injured whilst in his possession he shall at once carefully extinguish the light; and when he has completed his shift, he shall return it to the lamp-keeper or lamp room, “ When trying or examining for the presence of gas, the lamp must not be raised higher than will allow the presence of gas to be detected. “ It shall be the duty of every person employed in or about the mine to make proper use, when necessary, of all contrivances, appliances and provisions for safety applicable to the work to bejperformed by him. “ Where by the Act or regulations of the mine any ; duty is imposed upon or authority given to any fireman,! examiner, or deputy, that duty, in cases of emergency, may be fulfilled, or that authority exercised by and at the discretion of any official his superior at the mine and duly qualified to perform such duties. “Every person who shall observe or know of any breach of the Act or Regulations or Orders made there- under, shall immediately report such breach to the manager, under-manager, overman, master-shifter, fire- man, examiner or deputy.” The Manager, In Regulations 26 and 32 the owners ask for the omission of the word “ immediate,” and the insertion of the words “ as soon as reasonably practicable,” on the ground that the clauses as they stand would put an obligation on the manager which it might be impossible for him to discharge. The South Staffordshire owners, on the ground that the manager is only human, ask that he shall be required to carry out the duties of the under- manager (where no under-manager is appointed) “to the best of his power.” 29.—In this regulation, which refers to the notice specifying the numbers to be carried in the cage, the Miners’ Federation propose that in ascending the top deck should be loaded with men first. The Under-Manager. In clauses 33 and 37 it is asked that the word “ confer ” be substituted for “ consult,” the managers, in addition, ask for the substitution of “ frequently ” for “ daily,” as do the South Staffordshire owners and others. 35. —The regulation stands: “ He shall frequently and carefully examine all travelable parts of the mine whether frequented by workmen or not.” The owners ask for the substitution of “ working ” for “ travelable,” and the omission of the last six words of the clause, it being provided instead that all travelable roads shall be examined at least once in three months ; this is supported also by the managers. The Notts, Derby and Leicester mining officials would allow the under-manager to delegate this duty to “ some other competent person.” Other Officials (excepting Firemen, &c.). 36. —The managers express doubt as to whether it lies within the capacity of officials to make the persons under them “ understand ” their duties. 37. —There are numerous objections to this clause. The owners and managers, in addition to the alterations already referred to, ask that the phrase “ succession of shifts ” shall be made more definite by the addition of the word “ continuous ” (also in Regulation 41). The managers point out that the clause deals with the appointment of a special class of officials only to be found in the larger collieries, and, if their duties are made too onerous, the tendency will be to eliminate such officials altogether at the expense of supervision. The northern under-managers ask that for “ the mine ” shall be substituted “ the office at the mine,” in order to meet cases in which the duties of fore-over- man and under-manager are performed by the same person. The Durham deputies, on the other hand, would have the whole clause deleted, as tending to interfere with the fireman, examiner or deputy in the discharge of his duties. The North Staffordshire firemen raise a similar objection, and ask that all such officials should be required to hold a second-class certificate. The managers and owners propose the addition of the following new paragraph :— “Every official of the mine shall carry out the duties assigned to him by the manager, and shall carry out and enforce those provisions of the Act and of the Regulations and Orders made thereunder, which relate to the matters in respect of which such duties have been so assigned. Firemen, Examiners, and Deputies 39.—The owners propose an amendment definitely fixing the time before which inspections prior to the commencement of work shall be made, and another enabling a successor to make the second examination. They also propose the insertion of paragraphs enabling the fireman to be accompanied on his early examination by the men engaged in repairs. The Notts mining officials likewise ask that the duty may be performed by the night-shift deputy. With regard to the examination of lamps and the checking of workmen, the owners and managers ask that this duty may be undertaken by some competent person, who shall not necessarily be the fireman making the examinations of the working places. 41.—The Miners’ Federation object that this regula- tion, which compels the fireman to confer with his suc- cessor before leaving the mine would, where a succession of shifts is worked, involve long hours, and the North Staffordshire firemen would have it made clear that compliance with the regulation shall not indemnify a breach of the Eight Hours Act. 42. —The owners and managers would allow the fire- men, instead of having to take charge of all damaged lamps, to give directions for their return to the lamp- man. This is supported by the northern under-managers and North Staffordshire firemen ; the Notts mining officials would make the man using the lamp responsible for its delivery to the lamp-room at the end of his shift. 43. —The National Association of Colliery Deputies,. General Federation of Firemen and North Stafford- shire Firemen ask that this regulation should not apply to “ tramways in use,” but be confined to matters affect- ing the ventilation. 48.—The National Association of Deputies would have the official report all accidents that “ occur in his district ” rather than those which “ come to his know- ledge,” on the grounds that hearsay evidence should be debarred, and that the regulation as drafted would lead to “ unpleasantness, friction, and possibly strife.” 50. —In this regulation, which refers to the reporting of “ lights out,” the Miners’ Federation propose that the duty may be left to “ a competent person ” ; the South Staffordshire owners ask that the rule shall not apply to mines in which less than 50 people are employed under- ground on any one shift. 51. —The owners and managers propose the insertion of the following new paragraph:—“Every fireman, examiner or deputy shall observe such directions as may be given to him by any official of the mine superior to .him.” Winding Enginemen. 52. —The owners ask that the engineman shall be allowed to examine his engine at the commencement of “or during his shift,” so as to avoid duplication where continuous shifts are worked. The owners and managers ask that instead of being required to cease work until a defect has been remedied, the engineman shall do so only until instructed to resume winding by the official to whom he has reported the defect [also Regulation 56]. The National Federation of Enginemen object to the clause because it imposes duties which will mean an extension of the working period of each engineman and makes him absolutely responsible for the proper working and safety of the apparatus. The South Staffordshire owners also point out that compliance with the rule might necessitate a breach of the Eight Hours restrictions. 53. —The National Federation of Enginemen object also to this rule, which refers to the cleaning and oiling of engines, as relating to duties which are apart from the “essential business” of winding enginemen, which is defined as “ the lowering and raising of persons and minerals.” The Northumberland enginemen, however,, say laconically, “ If this Regulation suits the manage- ment it would suit us.” Persons in Charge of Ventilating Machines.. 59 and 60.—The owners ask that the person in charge should not be required to render continuous attendance, provided he keeps the machinery running at the proper speed and observes the indicator from time to time. The Cleveland owners propose a similar amendment, in which they have the acquiescence of the workmen. The managers wish to delete the whole paragraph, and the Northumberland enginemen state that it will be im- practicable to satisfy the requirements of regulations 59-63 and 61-65. The Boiler Minder. 66.—The owners propose that, in cases where the water level becomes too low, the boilerminder should damp down the fire, and, “ if necessary, ” draw the same. PART II. The Use of Electric Lamps. 68.—The owners and managers ask that the heading be amplified by the addition of “ other than locked safety lamps.” Approved electric safety lamps now stand on the same footing as flame safety lamps, and it is desirable to make it clear that the electric lamps referred to in the regulation are not necessarily of the “ approved ” type. At present electric lamps, if enclosed in air-tight fittings and having the lamp globes hermeti- cally sealed may, subject to the Act and Electricity Regulations, be used in safety lamp pits (a) on main intake airways and haulage roads ventilated by intake air “ up to within 300 yards of the first working place at the working face which the air enters.” The owners and managers ask that the words quoted shall be deleted, on the ground that there are places under- ground where, if ordinary work is carried on with safety, the locality must be sufficiently lighted, otherwise the work will be carried on under very dangerous condi. tions. Similarly in sub-paragraph (5), which refers to main return airways “ within 300 yards of the bottom of the upcast shaft if that shaft is regularly used for the purpose of winding persons or minerals, but not within