§ MR. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the frequent prosecutions of miners for manufacturing cartridges in their own homes; and whether, as they have no place to make such unless it be provided by their employers, he will bring in a Bill to make it compulsory on all employers of workmen who use explosives to build places to make cartridges in, in compliance with the terms of the Explosives Act?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, that he had ascertained from the Inspector that, contrary to law, miners were in the habit of making their own cartridges in their own homes, but that prosecutions for the offence were not frequent. He was told, also, that the supply of these cartridges was very great, and that there was not the slightest reason why miners should make them themselves; because they could purchase cartridges for very little more than the actual cost of the gunpowder of which they were made. It was quite competent, under the Act, for any miner to get a store licence for himself on payment of, he believed, 1s. He should not like to bring in a Bill of the nature indicated by the hon. Member's Question, for this reason—that it would be perpetuating a practice about which people were becoming very doubtful—namely, the use of gunpowder in mines. He thought it was very doubtful if any actual security would exist in mining operations un 1228 til the men made up their minds to give up the use of gunpowder altogether.
§ MR. MACDONALDsaid, he heartily concurred in the last observation of the right hon. Gentleman, and hoped the time would soon come when it would be put into force; but he should like to know, Whether the right hon. Gentleman was willing that licences should be issued permitting the miners to make cartridges in their own homes?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSreplied in the negative; but they might have a licence for a store separate from their homes, in which they might make what was required for their own use, but not for the use of others.