§ MR. NEATEsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is his intention to bring in a Bill for the Regulation of Coal Mines, founded on the Report of the Committee on that subject, which was presented last Session; and whether, in deference to the recommendations of that Committee, he has exercised, or whether he intends to exercise the power which he now possesses of appointing additional Inspectors of Coal Mines?
§ MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, he was not yet in a position to state whether he would bring in a Bill for the regulation of Mines. He was at present in communication with several persons on the subject. As to whether, in deference to the recommendations of that Committee, he had exercised, or intended to exercise, the power he possessed of appointing additional Inspectors of Coal Mines, that was a matter which was still in abeyance. At present he was not prepared to appoint such a number of Inspectors as would relieve proprietors of their charge, and make the Government responsible for the management of Mines. He was only disposed at present to appoint a number of Inspectors sufficient to see that proprietors managed their Mines with due care.