§ MR. G. OSBORNE MORGAN (Denbighshire, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, on the occurrence of the vacancy in the Assistant Inspectorship of Mines for the West Liverpool District 1606 (which includes the Counties of Denbigh and Flint), lately filled up by the appointment of Mr. E. Stokes, there were several candidates who, in addition to the highest general qualifications for the post (as shown by their testimonials and other evidence), possessed also a thorough knowledge of the Welsh language; and whether, under these circumstances, the appointment of an Assistant Inspector having no knowledge of that language constitutes a direct contravention of the provisions of Section 39, Sub-section 1, of "The Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887"?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI appointed Mr. Stokes as the best qualified of a list of 28 candidates, who were themselves selected as the most eligible out of a much larger number. Of these 28 some were acquainted with Welsh, including one gentleman, whom I nominated for a vacancy which occurred about the same time in South Wales. I do not consider that Mr. Stokes' appointment was a contravention of the Coal Mines Regulation Act. Not only did he appear the best qualified candidate, but the Liverpool District is mainly an English district.
§ MR. G. OSBORNE MORGANHas this gentleman any means of communicating with the thousands of miners in Flintshire and Denbighshire who speak nothing but Welsh?
§ MR. MATTHEWSThe right hon. Gentleman had better put another question.