 In 1907 , Sifton was one member of a three @-@ member commission assigned to investigate labour unrest between coal miners and mine operators . His colleagues were mining executive Lewis Stockett and miners ' union executive William Haysom . Miners ' demands included increased wages , a reduction in working hours to eight per day ( from ten ) , the posting of mine inspection reports , the isolated storage of explosives , the use of non @-@ freezing explosives , and semi @-@ monthly rather than monthly pay . The mine operators objected to this last point on the basis that many miners did not report to work the day after payday , and it was thus desirable to keep paydays to a minimum . The commission recommended that children under sixteen should not be allowed to work in mines , that inspectors should post their reports , that mine sites should have bath houses , and that ventilation inspection should be improved . It also recommended that Albertans keep a supply of coal on hand during the summer for winter use . The commission was silent on wages ( except to say that these should not be fixed by legislation ) , the operation of company stores ( a sore point among the miners ) , and the incorporation of mine unions ( which was recommended by mines but opposed by the unions ) . It made no recommendation about working hours , but Premier Alexander Rutherford 's government legislated an eight @-@ hour day anyway . 
