HC Deb 04 July 1879 vol 247 c1417
MR. MACDONALD

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to a paragraph in the " Western Mail " which would seem to imply that further search for the bodies that yet remain in the Dinas Colliery has been abandoned or suspended; if he has ascertained that such a report is correct; whether, considering the appeal that has been placed in his hands from a number of the widows complaining of the delay of the recovering of the bodies, he will impress on the employer the desirability of recovering the remains of the lost; and, whether, in view of the expression of the bereaved, he can give any hope that another inquest will be held with the object of arriving at, what seemed to them, a juster verdict on the case?

MR. ASSHETON CROSS

Sir, I have received a letter from the Colliery Company, saying that the late sub-Inspector of mines is managing the matter respecting this accident for them, and that he is gradually reducing the danger, in order to search for the bodies. When that is done, the Inspector himself is entirely of opinion that they ought to recover the bodies. He is doing all he can to attain that object. I shall be happy to show the hon. Member privately the letters which I have received upon the subject; but as to another inquest, that rests with the Coroner when any dead bodies are found, and it will be for him to hold an inquest or not, in his discretion.