§ Order for Second Reading read.
§ MR. DISRAELIsaid, he had already protested against this interposition between labour and capital. He had had communications from several coalowners, who had represented that this interference with their property would be seriously injurious, and suggested that the measure be postponed till next Session. It was a piece of hasty and ill-considered legislation.
§ MR. HUTTsupported the Bill. So far as his information went, the coalowners of the north of England were unanimously in favour of it. He should like to know who the coalowners were who had represented to the hon. Member for Buckinghamshire that this Bill would be injurious to their establishments? All he could say was that the coalowners in two of the most important counties in England took a very different view of it.
§ MR. WYLDreminded the House that upwards of 2,000 persons every year lost their lives in consequence of the ill ventilation of the mines, and that more than two-thirds of the coalowners of England had expressed their opinions in favour of the present Bill.
§ MR. LOCKEfeared it would be impossible to legislate satisfactorily upon a question on which so much diversity of opinion existed with regard to the preservation of life in mines. He had no objection to the passing of the present measure, as it was as little objectionable as anything that could be devised, although he did not think that the mortality would be lessened by it.
§ MR. FORSTERbelieved that in nine cases out of ten the fatal accidents which occurred were attributable to the men themselves, and not to the coalownere.
§ Bill read 2°.