HC Deb 25 February 1889 vol 333 cc257-8
MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the case mentioned by him on 10th May 1888, as throwing doubt on the applica- Tion of Clause 10 of "The Coal Mines, &c. Act, 1887," has yet been decided; and, does the Home Department now hold that the clause in question is universally and unconditionally operative except as specified in the Act of 1887?

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.

The Justices have only a few days ago stated and signed the special case, which was entered for hearing on Saturday last. Everything will be done to secure a speedy decision, but until that is given it would not be proper for me to give a reply to the second paragraph of the hon. Member's Question.

MR. BRADLAUGH

May I ask what delayed the decision of this special case for 12 months?

MR. MATTHEWS

The Justices have been pressed more than once, but only signed the special case on Saturday.

MR. BRADLAUGH

In ordinary cases the Justices have yielded to pressure, but it does not appear to have been exercised in this case.