§ MR. PICKARD (York, W.E., Normanton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he has made inquiry into the case of the police searching the men and boys at the Hoyland Silkstone Colliery, Yorkshire, as reported in The Barnsley Independent of April 2nd; and, if so, whether he will state under what legal 968 authority the police acted in searching the persons of these men and boys?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. STUART-WORTLEY) (Sheffield, Hallam)(who replied) said: The Secretary of State has obtained a Report from the Chief Constable on the subject, who informs him that in consequence of an application received from the official liquidator of the colliery three sergeants and one constable were sent to the pit, a breach of the peace being anticipated, while search was made among the men for percussion caps. This search was instituted. in consequence of a pistol loaded with powder and ball, but without percussion cap, having been found under suspicious circumstances, after violence and threats had been used by some of the men against the under-viewer, in a corf of dirt which had been brought from the pit. The Secretary of State understands that the police were only present, while the search itself was conducted under the personal direction of the manager, who considered that he had the right to make it under the Rules of the colliery, and it was made purely out of consideration for the safety of the miners, the pit being liable to fire. The Secretary of State does not see that anything was done to call for his interference.