Whilst many old miners complain about the regulations requiring written examinations for certificates of com petency, the authorities of the Schools of - Mines, on the other hand, are compiaiDing that the law has in tlu> past been strained to enable old minors to obtain certificates, and are urging that do amendment should be made in the present law, except in the direction of making the examination stricter. A. communication recently received by the Mines Department from |the Council of the Thames School of Minos, and published in the Mints Record, urges that no facilities other than those contained in '• The Mining Act, 1898,'' be granted for obtaining certificates of competency as mine managers. It is stated: " The Council are of the opinion that the time has fully arrived for enforcing the rule that all examinations must be by ordinary written method. The law in the past has been strained to its fullest limit co enable old miners to obtain certificates, and if reopened again it woul» be just i s well to drop ; tjae whole, mutter, and no longer insist on .the managers of mines having certificates of competency. There is a good deal of. discontent amongst those who have worked hard to obtain certificates by technical examination on finding that certificates have been issued by other methods, and if it is continued men will no longer study to pass, but will endeavour to obtain what they require by easier means. The Cduncil'know that you'share their opinion, and trust that you will allow no amendment in the present law except in the direction of making the examination stricter if deemed rieces* sary."

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THE TF AMES STAR.
