§ MR. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the confinement of 330 men and boys in the Clifton Hall Colliery, belonging to Andrew Knowles and Sons (Limited), carrying on collieries near Manchester; if that mine is in the district which is under the inspection of Mr. Joseph Dickinson; whether the colliery was being worked under the provisions of the Mines Regulation Act, which imposes the duty of having two shafts, one being for an escape shaft; if so, why the people were detained in the mine; and, if there has been a violation of the Mines Regulation Act, has he directed that the owners be prosecuted for having the said mine in a state calculated to endanger human life?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in reply, said, he was informed by the Inspector that the accident at the Clifton Hall Colliery was caused by the fact that the engine-driver, in a moment of forgetfulness, and contrary to the usual practice and the express rule of the colliery, started the driving engine before the signal to do so was given from above, the consequence being that the ascending buckets came in contact with those which were descending. No personal injury was caused, and as proceedings had been instituted against the person in fault the matter was not specially reported to the Secretary of State. He should, of course, see that the proceedings went on, and that proper steps would be taken to secure the punishment of the man who was responsible for the injury which had been done. There were two shafts in the mine, and the reason why the second shaft was not used to bring the men up was that the person in charge of the mine thought it would be much better to repair the shaft up which the men could go with absolute safety than to use one which would be attended with more risk. There had, he believed, been no contravention of 1075 the provisions of the Mines Regulation Act. If he found that there was, he should direct the necessary proceedings to be taken.