MINERS’ PHTHISIS ACT

From time to time I have noted your speeches in Parliament, and have read them with very great interest. Your remarks relative to above are no exception to the Rule, and knowing how interested you have been in the Fund, I enclose copy of Report relative to an application recently received, and I have little doubt that the man in question was in your mind when you were discussing matters on the 16th December, but what I particularly desire to bring under notice is that such remarks absolutely coincided with the expert opinion of Dr Watkins Pitchford when he conferred with the Board some two years ago, and you will notice from my report that I have quoted in extenso his remarks to query from Mr Bloxsome as to whether any chemical action of silica took place in the lungs. These remarks are from shorthand notes made by me at the time, and which in this instance I thought would be of interest to the Board, and equally so to your good self.

With best wishes for the New Year.

Secretary.

Work in the industry ceased in 1910, and as applicant was never a subscriber he is not eligible to any assistance, and unfortunately cannot come under the scope of the Fund.

This is no doubt one of the cases referred to by Hon J E Dodd MLC when discussing matters relative to the amendment of the Miners’ Phthisis Act in the Legislative Council on 16th December 1925, he said:

"It is astounding, but nevertheless true, that no matter how long a man may have been out of the mines, if he has worked in them for any considerable period, sooner or later he is going to fall a victim to the disease. I have in mind two cases specially – two out of hundreds or even thousands that I have seen pass through the books at Kalgoorlie. One of the men has been out of the mines for 14 years, engaged in the most healthful occupation conceivable and living under the best conditions, on the hills. Yet today that man has developed the disease. Recently I received a letter from a man who left the mines 18 years ago and took up market gardening on the fields, going later to Spearwood. That man has also developed the disease. I quote these instances to show the terrible nature of miners’ complaint".

And what Mr Dodd says proves the remarks of Dr Watkins Pitchford of the South African Miners’ Phthisis Medical Bureau, at his conference with the Board on 18th September, 1923, when in reply to query from Mr Bloxsome as to whether he considered any chemical action of silica took place in the lungs he said:

"There are several substances such as Corundum which are much harder than silica, but the dust may be inhaled with immunity for many years and will not give rise to silicosis. I have never heard of any disease resembling silicosis in the diamond cutting industry. Then again the microscopic examination of lungs of miners who have mined in all sorts of minerals shows that the silica particles – and apparently the silica particles only – produce specific effect on the lungs, causing them to change into fibres. It is that change into fibres which constitute damage to the lungs. Until that change comes about the lung is capable of performing all its functions. The particles are there in the cells of the lungs and may be so for years and years, but when the cells turn into fibres this is the first indication of serious damage. I believe it is probable many men who work in gold mines, especially quartz gold mines, are in a condition of latent silicosis or latent Miners’ Phthisis, and may at any time after several years away from the Mines develop disease in consequence of these cells turning into fibres. The only probable explanation of that change in the present state of our knowledge is that it is due to chemical action, but what the nature of it is I have not the remotest idea".

A mournful duty devolves upon me today. Since we last met a member of this House, an old personal friend of mine, and I may add, a personal friend of the older members of this chamber, Mr Jabez Edward Dodd, has passed away. I had known him ever since he entered the Legislative Council 18 years ago and was closely associated with him for five years. He was a Ministerial colleague of mine during the time the Scaddan Government was in power. He assisted me not only in the administration of my department but in my capacity of Leader of this House.

As an administrator he brought to bear on his duties a sound judgement, a constant vigilance and a strict conscientiousness. As Honorary Minister he was most helpful to me, taking charge of all industrial and health legislation. His grasp of Bills, his lucidity of exposition, and his earnestness of purpose gave him many successes. Throughout those five years I realised that I had an able and loyal lieutenant, and I can look back on the term of our Ministerial companionship with the most consoling recollections. And my experience of the late Mr Dodd was the experience of everyone else who had become acquainted with him. He won the respect and esteem of all. For many years he had been suffering from a continuous and painful illness, which he bore with Christian resignation. Hon members will recollect that despite the nerve-racking strain of his affliction his temper was always even, and that in the strongest of discussions he preserved unruffled the tranquillity of his mind. When I came back to the House in 1924 as Leader again, I found my old friend, Mr Dodd, still one of my most valued colleagues. He supported me in every measure which aimed at uplifting or improving the condition of the great mass of humanity; and so earnest and anxious was he to assist in this that he often asked me to arrange the Notice Paper that he could speak on a Bill and vote on the second reading. He was frequently present in this Chamber when a man of less strength of character would have been at home on a bed of sickness. He set an example to all of fortitude in extreme suffering, of heroic devotion to duty, and of service to his fellow men. It is needless to speak of him as a husband and father. Those whom I am addressing today realise the severity of the blow that has fallen on his family. The State has suffered a great loss, but his family’s loss is the greater, and our hearts go out to them in their grief. It is only fitting that we should place among the records of this House a tribute to the memory of the departed one and a message of condolence to the bereaved. I therefore move – That this House do place on record the eminent public services rendered to the State by the late Jabez Edward Dodd, as a Minister and also as a member of this Council for 18 years. This House further expresses its sympathy with his widow and family in the irreparable loss, which they sustained by his decease.