ADDRESS FOR A PAPER. (Hansard, 7 February 1867)

LORD WHARNCLIFFE

, in moving for further papers, said, he hoped he might regard the Motion of the noble Earl as an indication that the attention of the Government was directed to the important question of the inspection of mines. Living as he did in the neighbourhood of the scene of one of the recent calamities, he had given much consideration to the subject, and thought that the law ought to be amended so as to give inspectors of mines additional powers. In one instance which came 81 within his own knowledge a mine was supposed to be in a dangerous state. The person who was interested in it warned those who worked in it of the danger, and at the same time a letter was written to the Government inspector, who replied that nothing could be done in the matter. The number of inspectors at present existing was quite inadequate to the work to be performed. Instead of their visiting mines only when they were reported to be unsafe, every mine ought to be regularly and periodically inspected. He hoped that the Government would devote their attention to the subject, and would introduce the necessary amendments into the Act of Parliament.

THE EARL OF BELMORE

, in reply, said, that there would be no objection to produce the document desired by the noble Lord; and further stated that it was the intention of the Home Secretary to refer all the papers to the Committee of the House of Commons which sat last Session to inquire into the subject of the inspection of mines, and which it was intended to re-appoint this year. He entirely agreed with the noble Lord as to the insufficiency of the number of inspectors. Mr. Wynne, the inspector of the Staffordshire district, told him the other day that he had under his charge 300 or more collieries and 900 mines; and that he could never inspect more than three mines a day, and sometimes only one. It was therefore impossible that he could make an inspection of each of these mines as often even as once a year.