12. Any person who aids or abets any other person to whom commodities have been supplied under this Act in using or attempt ing to use such commodities, or any quantity thereof, for a purpose other than that for which such commodities were supplied, shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds, or to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding six months.

Penalty for aiding

of commodities.

and abetting misuse

13. No commodity shall be supplied or money advanced Advances not to under the principal Act or this Act after the 31st day of March, be made after 31st 1917.

March, 1917.

ments.

14. The amendments made by this Act shall have effect as from Effect of amendthe commencement of the principal Act.

THE

THE SCHEDULE.

CAVEAT.

To the Registrar of Titles [or To the Under Secretary for Lands.]

TAKE NOTICE that I, the Colonial Treasurer, claim to have a statutory charge as mortgagee under "The Industries Assistance Act, 1915," for advances under paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of Section 9 of the said Act, upon.

And I forbid the registration of any person as transferee or proprietor of and of any instrument affecting the said lease or interest, unless such instrument is expressed to be subject to my claim.

I appoint the Crown Law Offices, Perth, as the place at which notices and proceedings relating to this Caveat may be served.

BE

[Assented to 20th November, 1915.]

E it enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

1. This Act may be cited as the Mines Regulation Act Amend- Short title. ment Act, 1915, and shall be read as one with the Mines Regulation Act, 1906, hereinafter referred to as the principal Act.

2. Section three of the principal Act is amended by adding a Amendment of paragraph, as follows:

"This Act" includes the regulations made and in force under

this Act.

Section 3.

3. Sections five to ten of the principal Act, both inclusive, are Repeal of Sections hereby repealed, and sections five to fourteen of this Act, both 5 to 10.

inclusive, are substituted in lieu thereof.

4. Section sixteen of the principal Act is hereby repealed.

Repeal of Section 16.

5. [5.] The Governor may appoint fit and proper persons to Appointment of be inspectors of mines. The inspectors of mines appointed under inspectors of any Act hereby repealed shall be deemed to have been appointed 1906, No. 86, s. 5, under this Act.

mines.

amended.

6.

Control.

1906, No. 36, s. 6, with addition.

Classification of inspectors.

District inspectors.

Conditions of appointment of special and workmen's inspectors.

Term of appointment of workmen's inspectors.

Powers of inspectors.

1906, No. 36, s. 7, amended.

6. [6.] Every inspector of mines shall be under the control of such person as the Minister may from time to time appoint, and shall act in such districts, portions of districts, or mines, as the Minister may from time to time direct.

7. [6a.] Inspectors of Mines shall be of three classes, namely:

(a) District inspectors, who shall have the full powers of inspectors under this Act; but every district inspector, prior to being appointed, shall satisfy the Minister that he has had not less than five years' practical experience in general underground mining work, and that he has passed an examination prescribed or approved by the Minister in accordance with the regulations;

(b) Special inspectors, who shall be appointed to make such special inspections, inquiries, and investigations on matters within the scope of this Act, requiring special technical or scientific training or knowledge, as the Minister may from time to time direct; and

(c.) Workmen's inspectors, who shall in accordance with the regulations be elected by the majority of persons bona fide employed in the mines in the several mining districts, and subject to approval of the Minister; but no person shall be eligible for such appointment unless he has been engaged in general practical underground mining work as a working miner for at least five years. Provided that no person shall be eligible to vote in any election for a workmen's inspector who is not a natural born or naturalised British subject.

8. [6b.] District inspectors shall be under the Public Service Act, 1904, but special and workmen's inspectors shall not by reason of their appointment as such be deemed to be subject to the provisions of the said Act.

9. [6c.] All the terms and conditions of appointment of special inspectors and workmen's inspectors, the mines, districts, and portions of districts in which they may exercise their powers, and the number of days to be given by them to the duties of their offices, shall be as may be fixed from time to time by the Minister, subject to the regulations.

10. [6d.] Workmen's inspectors shall be appointed for a term not to exceed two years, but they shall be eligible for re-appointment.

A Workmen's inspector may be removed from his office by the Minister for any cause which the Minister may, in his discretion, deem sufficient.

11. [7] A district or special inspector shall have power to do all or any of the following things, namely:

(a) To make examination and inquiry to ascertain whether the provisions of this Act affecting any mine are complied with:

(b.)

(b) To enter, inspect, and examine any mine and every part
thereof at all times by day and night, with such assist-
ants as he may deem necessary, but so as not unneces-
sarily to impede or obstruct the working of the mine:
(c) To examine into and make inquiry respecting the state
and condition of any mine, or any part thereof, and of
all matters or things connected with or relating to the
safety or well-being of the persons or animals employed
therein or in any mine contiguous thereto, and for the
purpose of such examination or inquiry the inspector
may require the attendance of any mine official or em-
ployee, and such official or employee shall attend ac-
cordingly:

(d) To initiate and conduct prosecutions against persons
offending against the provisions of this Act:
(e) To obtain written statements from witnesses, and to
appear at inquiries held respecting mining accidents,
and at inquests, and to call and examine witnesses, and
to cross-examine witnesses:

(f) To exercise generally such other powers as are in his discretion necessary for carrying this Act into effect. A workmen's inspector shall have power to do all or any of the following things, namely

(a) To make examination and inquiry to ascertain whether the
provisions of this Act affecting any mine are complied
with:

(b) To enter, inspect, and examine any mine and every part
thereof at all times by day and night, with such assist-
ants as he may deem necessary, but so as not unneces-
sarily to impede or obstruct the working of the mine;
(c) To examine into and make inquiry respecting the state and
condition of any mine or any part thereof, and of all
matters or things connected with or relating to the
safety or well-being of the persons or animals employed
therein or in any mine contiguous thereto, and for the
purpose of such examination or inquiry the inspector
may require the attendance of any mine official or
employee, and such official or employee shall attend
accordingly:

(d) With the authority of a district inspector, but not other-
wise, to initiate and conduct prosecutions against
persons offending against the provisions of this Act:
(e) Where a district inspector is not available, or with the.
authority of a district inspector, to obtain written state-
ments from witnesses, and to appear at inquiries held
respecting mining accidents, and at inquests, and to call
and examine witnesses, and to cross-examine wit

nesses.

12.