§ MR. CUNNINGHAM E GRAHAM (Lanark, N.W.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he is aware that the Weights and Measures Act has failed to protect miners in Lanarkshire from being obliged to furnish 22½ cwts. for a ton; and, in view of his statement that the miners would find protection against this irregular practice under that Act, if he can suggest any mode of dealing with the grievance?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)If any miner in Lanarkshire has been obliged to furnish to his employer 22½ cwt. for a ton, that employer is, I am advised, liable under the 41 & 42 Vict. c. 49, to a fine which can be recovered before a Court of Summary Jurisdiction, and a moiety paid to the informer, and that is the mode of dealing with the grievance which has been approved by Parliament after repeated discussions. If a miner agrees to furnish coal at an agreed price per cwt. or per 22½ cwt., that, no doubt, is not reached by the Weights and Measures Act, and I cannot suggest any mode of preventing that practice.
§ MR. CUNNINGHAME GRAHAMasked whether, in view of the fact that the hopes of the miners were turned to this matter, and that great excitement existed in Lanarkshire in regard to it, the Home Secretary would consider whether he could not introduce into the Coal Mines, &c. Regulation Bill some 368 provision to meet the grievance to which he had referred?
§ MR. MATTHEWSsaid, he should be most happy to pay the fullest attention to any grievance that existed; but the grievance stated in the Question of the hon. Member was met by the existing law. He was not quite sure that he apprehended what more the hon. Member wished him to state.
§ MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)asked, whether the Home Secretary was aware that the point had been decided against the miners within the last fornight?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI must ask Notice of that. I am not aware of it.