§ MR. CUNINGHAME GRAHAMI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been directed to certain alleged cases of gross cruelty to ponies in the South Wales coal pits, mentioned in the Labour Tribune; and if he would take into consideration a plan whereby a list of the horses in any pit should be obliged to be submitted to the Inspector of Mines at his request, and that special facilities be given for the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals officially to have access to the ponies employed in mines?
§ MR. MATTHEWSYes, Sir; my attention has been called to this matter, and I have recently issued a Circular to all the Chief Inspectors of Mines calling their attention to the allegations that have been made in the Press in respect of the treatment of horses and ponies in mines, and instructing them to watch for and report specially to the Secretary of State any case of ill-usage that comes to their notice. I hope that by this means I shall be able effectually to put a stop to any cruel practices that may at present exist.