§ MR. BURTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the evidence given before the court of inquiry into the colliery explosion at Blantyre, showing frequent violation of the provisions of the Mines Regulation Act; and, whether he will cause an inquiry to be made into the conduct of the manager of that colliery with a view to the cancellation of his certificate according to the thirty-second clause of the Mines Regulation Act?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSSir, I think that provision of the 32nd clause of this Act is a very useful one, and I have sometimes, at the suggestion of the Inspectors of Mines, put it in force to show the managers of mines that they are practically on the same footing as 1488 captains of ships, and are liable to the loss of their certificates; still the Secretary of State can only act on the information he receives. In this case a Special Commission, consisting of an eminent advocate and a Chief Inspector of Mines, was appointed to inquire into the causes of the explosion. When they sent in their Report no mention was made of the section in question; and, thinking this was a case in which their attention should be drawn to it, I asked them whether they would give me any information on which I could act against the manager? The reply they made was that, in their opinion, it was not a case in which any action ought to be taken.