2o6 SAFETY IN WINDING OPERATIONS. 



driving for i6 years. However, it is usual for a first offence to 

 be dealt with by an official caution, subsequent offences by short 

 ]ieriods of suspension, while it is extremely rare for a driver's 

 certificate to be cancelled. 



It has never been proved that suspensions of certificates or 

 ])rosecutions in the Criminal Courts have ever actually brought 

 about a reduction in the number of winding accidents, but those 

 who await the proof before believing, and who are unprepared to 

 allow that any deterrent effect is produced in the delinquent, will 

 still doubtless admit tlie possib)lit\ or even ])robabih'tv of 

 " encouraging the others." 



It is fairly certain, however, that, if the supply of capable 

 drivers is not maintained, the accident rate will increase. 



The training of winding-engine-drivers has been discussed 

 off and on for the last 15 years, but no satisfactory scheme has 

 been evolved. Since the year 1904 there has been a provision in 

 Regulation 308 (5) for a sort of adult apprenticeship. This 

 regulation allows of a person being accepted as a candidate U>r 

 the vhia-vocc examination who, having had one year's charge of 

 engines or boilers, including at least six months' charge of a 

 reversing engine, has also served six months' ap])renticeship 

 tmder a certificated driver in a main hauling engine-room. This 

 plan has not been so successful, no more than ore candidate ]»er 

 annum having been trained. The greater number of locally-trained 

 winding-engine-drivers (jualify under Regulation 308 (4) for 

 examination on small rock hoists and winches. This regulation 

 states the condition. vi:~., " that he has had at least one v^ar's 

 charge of an engine or engines used in the ordinary hoisting of 

 minerals, unless he is the holder of an engine-driver's certificate, 

 in which case a period of six months shall suffice." 



It has to be remembered that 21 is the mininumi age (jf 

 applicants for winding-engine-drivers' certificates. To enable 

 the youth of the country to qualifv in the best way. it remains to 

 be decided what is the most suitable training between the ages of 

 16 and 21. The author feels disposed to commend a system 

 proposed to him in 1916 by two eminent engineers who were 

 then considering apprenticeship schemes for the various trades. 

 The ]>roposal was that the engine-driver apprentice should after 

 two years in the Trade School serve one and a half year? learning 

 fitting and turning, one and a half years tending boilers and 

 engines, and the remaining time (at least 12 months) imder a 

 certificated driver in a main winding-engine-room. 



The number of candidates presenting themselves for exami- 

 nation has been diminishing, the average number of certificates 

 issued annually during the last five years being less than 50 

 cent, of the average ntunber issued during the |)receding similar 

 period. 



The most recent figures available as to the number of 

 certificated winding-engine-drivers in service on the mines of 

 the Witwatersrand relate to the ist August. 1916, at which date 



