§ (1) Where a fire is used for ventilation in any mine the return air shall be carried off clear of the fire by means of a dumb drift or airway, unless the mine is one in which inflammable gas is unknown.
§ (2) Where a mechanical contrivance for ventilation is used at any mine it shall not be placed beneath the surface and means shall be provided for reversing the air current and maintained in readiness to be put into immediate operation:
§ Provided that this provision shall not be construed as preventing mechanical contrivances for ventilation being placed underground when such contrivances are auxiliary only and the contrivance whereby the main ventilation is produced is placed on the surface and is capable of producing such amount of ventilation as in an emergency would be sufficient for the safety of the persons employed underground:
§ Provided also that this provision shall not be construed as preventing mechanical contrivances for ventilation being placed underground when such contrivances afford a complete additional system of ventilation, and when a complete ventilating appliance is provided on the surface capable of producing adequate ventilation for the mine, and immediately available for use in the event of accident, and is kept 1444 in an effective condition and is used once at least in each week.
§ (3) No fire or furnace shall be placed underground in any new mine or seam after the passing of this Act.
§ Amendment made: In Sub-section (3), leave out the words "and means shall be provided for reversing the air current and maintained in readiness to be put into immediate operation.—[Mr. Masterman.]
§ Mr. MASTERMANI beg to move, at end of Sub-section (2), to insert,
(3) After the first day of January, nineteen hundred and thirteen, or such later date as, in view of the circumstances of the mine, may be fixed by the inspector of the division, there shall in every mine, in which a mechanical contrivance for ventilation is used, be provided and maintained in a condition to be put into immediate operation adequate means for reversing the air current.This is to meet a point raised by the hon. Member opposite. We promised to allow a certain limit before the carrying out of this operation. After consultation, as the conditions in the mines are so different, we propose, as a general rule, the 1st day of January, 1913, or such later date as may be fixed in view of the circumstances of the mine.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Further Amendments made: In Subjection (3), leave out the words "or furnace shall be placed underground in any new mine or seam," and insert instead thereof the words "shall be used below ground for ventilation in any mine or seam newly opened."
§ After the word "Act," insert the words, "except in the case of a mine in which the total number of persons employed below ground does not exceed thirty, and in which the upcast shaft contains no inflammable material."—[Mr. Masterman.]