§ MR. LIDDELLasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If it is true that "Assistant Inspectors" of Mines are about to be appointed by Government; and, if so, under what Act of Parliament such appointments are to be made, and what will be the nature of the duties of such assistant inspectors?
MR. BRUCE,in reply, said, he was aware of the opinion which his hon. Friend held on the subject, and could assure him that the persons appointed would in all respects be similar to those hitherto appointed, except that they would be younger men. The same Committee in whose Report many improvements in mines were brought under the consideration of the House had recommended that there should be an increase in the number of Inspectors, and the Government had considered how that could be done most effectually and economically. They were of opinion that the best course to take would be to give each Inspector an assistant, having the same sort of qualification as himself, but younger and more active. That was being done, and the examination to which those assistant Inspectors would be subjected would be precisely the same as that which had hitherto been applied to the Inspectors. They would be persons, in short, who, in the event of their distinguishing themselves by their ability and energy, would be fully qualified in their turn to become Inspectors of Mines.