§ DR. CLARK (Caithness)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the Coroner's inquest on the body of William Love, who died on June 4 from the effects of a fall at Wheelock Works, Northwich; whether this man had been at work for 17 hours when the fatal injury occurred; whether it is the case that at these works there are shifts of 23 hours continuously; and, whether he will consider the desirability of introducing a measure to deal with such excessive hours of toil?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; my attention has been called to a newspaper report of the inquest, from which it appears that this man had been at work for 17 hours when the accident occurred. He was engaged on a night shift, which lasted from 1 on Saturday till 8 on Sunday morning. I agree with the hon. Member that this was a shift of excessive length; but I gather from the report of the inquest that the death was caused by the imprudence of the deceased in endeavouring to oil the 1243 machinery when standing on some pipes, instead of on the platform provided for the purpose. I cannot undertake to introduce legislation for the purpose of curtailing the hours of labour contracted for by adult persons.