§ MR. BURT (Morpeth)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the fact that great dissatisfaction has been caused by certain mine owners refusing to meet checkweighmen on deputations representing the workmen; whether he is aware that some employers who formerly received the checkweighmen on such deputations now refused to do so, alleging that the new Mines Regulation Act precludes them from doing so; and whether there is any section of the Act that has altered the law on this point?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. STUART WORTLEY,) Sheffield, HallamYes, Sir; the Secretary of State has been informed that in some instances complaints have arisen in consequence of the unwillingness of the owners or their representatives to meet checkweighers on deputations representing the men. If it is contended that the Coal Mines Regulation Act of 1887 has any bearing on the point the Secretary of State can only regret that such an erroneous impression should prevail, as that Act has made no alteration in the law, and in no way precludes mine owners from adopting a course which is likely to remove misunderstanding and to prevent friction.