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VII. — Recommendations
As the result then of my inquiry I respectfully submit for consideration the following recommendations :—
1. That there should be imposed by Statute on the respective owners or lessees of adjoining going mines a mutual duty to give notice to each other whenever their respective workings approach within a prescribed distance of the mutual boundary.
2. That the respective owners or lessees of adjoining going mines should have a mutual right and duty to examine and copy such parts
(a) of each other's working plans and
(b) of any plans in their respective possession of abandoned workings, as lie within 100 yards of their mutual boundary.
3. That a statutory duty should be imposed upon the owners and lessees of every working mine to ascertain whether any plans of abandoned workings within the area of such mine or within a reasonable surrounding margin are in the possession of
(a) the owners or lessees of the adjoining mineral areas; or
(b) the Mines Department
and if such plans are found to exist to examine the same and to make copies of such portion thereof as relates to the area of their own mine and to a reasonable surrounding margin.
4. That the lessors of every mine should be bound to disclose and make available for copying to their lessees all plans in their possession of abandoned workings within the area let and a reasonable surrounding margin.
5. That the current working plan of every mine directed to be kept under Section 20 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, should be required to show, so far as practicable, in addition to the boundaries of the mine, all workings, whether going or abandoned, as ascertained under the foregoing rights and duties.
6. That the Department should vigorously continue their efforts to obtain voluntarily as complete a recovery as possible of all plans or copies of plans of workings abandoned before the Act of 1872 came into operation.
7. That the plans of all abandoned workings received by the Department by transmission either voluntarily or under statute should he so registered, catalogued and classified geographically as to be readily accessible.
8. That access to such plans in the hands of the Department should be available immediately after deposit not only to all persons upon whom a statutory duty of inspection may be imposed in terms of my preceding recommendations, but also to all persons who can satisfy the Department that they have a legitimate interest to inspect them.
I desire to conclude with an expression of my indebtedness to Mr. Henry Walker, H.M. Chief Inspector of Mines, for his most valuable assistance as technical assessor, and to all others who took part in the inquiry for their helpful co-operation, which so greatly facilitated my task.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient servant,
H. P. MACMILLAN.
