§ MR. MACDONALDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If, considering that now there are several well-known safety-detaching hooks in use which minimise the loss of life from overwinding at mines, he will direct that the attention of the mine owners of the United Kingdom be called to the necessity for their use, for the prevention of catastrophes such as that which took place at the Blantyre No. 3 Pit, where sis men lost their lives a few days ago?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS,in reply, said, it was not usual to call on the 1290 Inspectors of Mines to send in their Reports before the 31st of March. When the Reports reached the Office of the Secretary of State, they would then be put into the hands of the printer and be laid on the Table forthwith. He quite agreed that the use of safety-detaching hooks was a great safeguard for life. The contrivance had been very gradually, and was now very extensively, used by coal-owners, and it would be beneficial to instruct the Inspectors to promote its use in various districts. He was glad to say that the number of accidents from the cause referred to had for a number of years been very small, and he hoped the use of this contrivance would render them fewer.