MINES.

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from railway collieries, much of which is got from open workings. This
last grievance has been removed by the voluntary adoption by the Railway
 Board of the substance of these regulations in the quarries under
their control, and we have only to consider the question in reference to
quarries in private ownership. Our view is that the existing regulations
involve as great a disturbance of the economic position of women in the
coalfield as is desirable at present, and we are not in favour of their extension
 to quarries on any grounds other than those of health. We
think that arguments based on health considerations would be met by
limitation of the permissible load for women where the depth and lead
exceed a certain number of feet. The exact standards are a matter for
expert consideration and we would leave them to be fixed by the Mining
Boards on the advice of their technical and medical experts. We
recommend that the Board, having fixed the standards, should register
those workings in which they find they are exceeded, and require the
managers of them, by regulation, to serve out to women in ther employ
baskets of a size not to exceed, when loaded, the maximum weight prescribed.
 We do not recommend any restriction where the depth and
lead are less than the prescribed standard.
Method of Selection.

We have one other recommendation to make in connection
with the exclusion of women. It is clear that the next year or two
will raise a difficult problem in the selection of those who are put out of
work in tompliance with the regulation. One mine at least has evolved
a workable system, but, on the whole, insufficient consideration hag been
given to this matter and we think that, having regard to the consequences
of exclusion to the individual woman, as well as to her family, the industry
should devise a fair and workable system which could be recommended to
managers faced with the necessity of excluding considerable numbers in
the near future. To this end we recommend early joint consideration
of the matter by representatives of the employers, the workers and the
inspectorate.

Age of Employment.

Under the present law, children under the age of 13 years may
not be employed in mines either above or below ground and there are no
half timers. We are of opinion that the starting age should be raised
yet higher and, since no large number of young persons is employed,
this could be done without detriment to the industry. We recommend
that no child under the age of 14 years should in future be permitted
to work in or about the mines.

Incidence of Accidents.

As is proper, a large part of the Act, and of the regulations and
rules made under it, are directed to questions of safety. Up to 1923 the
Inspectorate was almost completely occupied with safety matters and,
bartly in consequence, this side of the regulating machinery is in advance