§ 66. Mr. E. J. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary for Mines whether he proposes to take steps to fix minimum dimensions in return airways as an assurance to a good ventilating system and removal of dangers of explosion from gas accumulation?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKThe Royal Commission on Safety in Coal Mines is now investigating this and other matters concerning ventilation, and, pending their report, I do not propose to amend the existing requirements of the Coal Mines Act,.1911.
§ 67. Mr. E. J. WILLIAMSasked the Secretary for Mines whether he has con- 1051 sidered the loss of life on the coal face due to machine mining and the noise therefrom; and what action he proposes to take to reduce this toll of human life?
§ Captain CROOKSHANKA general review of the problems has now been commenced by the Royal Commission on Safety in Mines. The specific question of mitigating noise has been taken up with the manufacturers of coal face machinery.