Abstract: A mineral mining machine of the shearer type has a hollow drive shaft for the cutter drum. Mounted coaxially within the shaft is a tube which has affixed to both ends electrical plugs which are releasably attachable to complementary sockets disposed at the ends of the shaft. An electrical conduit carrying conductors extends coaxially within the tube and is electrically connected at each end to the plugs. This arrangement allows electrical control signals to be fed through the conduit between the face side of the machine and the goaf side thereof, the arrangement being easily disengageable from the shaft. At the same time, a dust suppressant can flow through the tube and around the conduit between an input manifold and a discharge manifold which distributes the suppressant to cutting tools on the drum.