1526
THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE.
[No. 38

(b.) A certificate or certificates from his previous employers that he has had not less than three years’ experience in underground workings in a coal-mine in the case of the holder of a mine-manager’s certificate granted after examination under the Mining Act, 1908, and not less than five years’ such experience in any other case: Provided that in all cases the applicant shall have had at least one year’s experience as a coal-hewer:

(c.) A certificate at date from his employer as to his general conduct and sobriety.

9. For the purpose of enabling the Board to determine whether the candidate possesses the requisite practical experience, his application shall specify accurately and definitely the respective mines in which he has been employed, and the duration and nature of his employment in or at each mine.

10. The examination for underviewers’ certificates shall be partly written and partly oral and practical, and shall include the following subjects:—

(a.) Working coal and timbering underground.

(b.) Ventilation, mine-gases, spontaneous combustion, inflammability of coaldust.

(c.) Dealing with old workings and other sources of danger.

(d.) Arithmetic and a knowledge of the Coal-mines Act, 1908, and its amendments (so far as this relates to the working and safety of mines), and of the general rules, special rules, and regulations made thereunder.

(e.) First aid to the injured.

(NOTE.—A first-aid certificate of the St. John Ambulance Association or other body approved by the Board of Examiners, showing that the candidate is fitted to give first aid to persons requiring it, will be accepted in lieu of examination.)

(f.) Accurate tests for inflammable gas with a safety-lamp.

(NOTE.—The candidate must be able to judge by the size and appearance of the cap how much gas approximately is present. He will be tested with percentages of gas from 2 per cent. upwards, and no candidate will pass who is unable to see a 2-per-cent. cap.)

(g.) A candidate will be required to show that he can measure the quantity of air in an air-current.

(h.) The candidate’s hearing will be tested, and should be such as to enable him to carry out his duties efficiently.

11. The examination for firemen and deputies shall be oral and practical, and shall include—

(a.) Working coal and timbering underground:

(b.) Ventilation, mine-gases, spontaneous combustion, and inflammability of coaldust:

(c.) A knowledge of the general rules, special rules, and regulations under the Coal-mines Act, 1908, and its amendments:

(d.) First aid to the injured.

(NOTE.—A first-aid certificate of the St. John Ambulance Association or other body approved by the Board of Examiners, showing that the candidate is fitted to give first aid to persons requiring it, will be accepted in lieu of examination.)

(e.) Also the requirements set out in paragraphs (f) and (h) of clause 10 hereof.

12. Underviewers’ certificates by examination shall be in Form 4 and firemen and deputies’ certificates shall be in Form 5 in the Schedule hereto.

CERTIFICATES BY EXCHANGE.

13. (1.) Every application for a certificate of competency without examination (by exchange) as mine-manager, underviewer, or fireman-deputy shall be made in writing under the hand of the applicant to the Secretary, Board of Examiners, Mines Department, Wellington.

(2.) The application shall be accompanied by—

(a.) The corresponding certificate it is desired to exchange:

(b.) A fee of £1 1s:

(c.) A statutory declaration that the applicant is the person named in the certificate, and is the lawful holder of such certificate:

(d.) Evidence of his practical experience as a coal-miner:

(e.) A certificate at date from some person of repute as to the general conduct and sobriety of the applicant.

(3.) No certificate shall be granted unless and until the Board is satisfied that the applicant is of good character and repute, and is a bona fide resident of New Zealand, and that the standard of training and examinations required for the grant of such a certificate is equivalent to that required for the grant of a corresponding certificate under the said Act.

(4.) (a.) Certificates by exchange shall only be granted by the Board after the applicant has satisfied the Board by oral examination that he has a satisfactory knowledge of the said Act and the regulations made thereunder.

(b.) The oral examination shall be conducted by two members of the Board or a member of the Board and an Inspector of Mines.

(c.) Mine-managers’ certificates without examination (by exchange) shall be in Form 3 in the Schedule hereto.

(d.) Underviewers’ and firemen and deputies’ certificates without examination (by exchange) shall be in Form 7 in the Schedule hereto.

DUPLICATE CERTIFICATES.

14. (1.) Every application for a duplicate of any certificate issued under this Act shall be made in writing under the hand of the applicant to the Secretary, Board of Examiners, Mines Department, Wellington.

(2.) The application shall state the nature and class of certificate it is desired to obtain a duplicate of, and the number and date of same if possible.

(3.) The application shall be accompanied by—

(a.) A fee of 10s.

(b.) A statutory declaration that the applicant is the person named in such certificate and is the lawful holder thereof. The declaration shall also set forth how such certificate came to be lost or destroyed, the date of the loss, and such other particulars as may be required.

GAS-TESTING CERTIFICATES.

15. A fee of 7s. 6d. shall be charged for each gas-testing certificate issued, one-third of which fee shall be paid to the Director of the School of Mines at which such gas-test is made.

16. No certificate shall be issued to any person without first being forwarded to the Secretary, Board of Examiners, for counter-signature.

GENERAL.

17. (1.) In urgent cases individuals may, at the discretion of the Board, be allowed a special examination in Wellington, or other examining centre, after due notice is given, provided that the regulations have been complied with, and that a special fee (in no case less than £2 2s.) sufficient to cover the expenses of the examination has been paid.

(2.) The Board of Examiners may grant or refuse a certificate of competency upon any grounds it deems advisable.

RETURNS.

18. (1.) The half-yearly returns to be forwarded to the Inspector of Mines under the said Act shall be in the form set forth in Form 8 in the Schedule hereto.

(2.) In such other cases where information is required by the Minister or by the Inspector and no form is prescribed, the Minister, or the Inspector, may cause the information to be supplied in such form as he may require.

SICK AND ACCIDENT FUND.

19. No withdrawal of money from the account mentioned in the said Act as the “Sick and Accident Fund” (hereinafter referred to as “the said account”), at any post-office savings-bank, shall be permitted until the miners’ association of the district has nominated at least two persons as trustees of the said fund, and has given to the Chief Postmaster of the district and to the Minister of Mines written notice of such nomination, and of the acceptance of such trusteeship by the persons so nominated.

20. When any change takes place in the office of trustee, either by death, resignation, removal, or otherwise, similar notices shall at once be given by the association.

21. Whenever any sum of money is withdrawn by the trustees from the said account, the trustees shall give to the Inspector of Mines residing nearest to the post-office savings-bank where the said account is kept full particulars of the sum or sums so withdrawn, and of the nature and cause and place of occurrence of the accident on account of which the payment is made, and, in addition, the doctor’s certificate relating thereto.

22. No sum exceeding £20 in amount shall be withdrawn from the said account without the written authority of the said Inspector.