MR. SPENCER BALFOURI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been directed to the growing use in Lancashire coal mines of the explosive called "roburite"; if he is aware that the Miners' National Conference, held in Manchester on the 4th July, 1889, condemned the use of roburite as injurious to the health of the miners; and whether, if any doubt exists on this point, he will direct an inquiry into the matter, and will give the men an opportunity of producing scientific and other evidence in support of their view?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. MATTHEWS,) Birmingham, E.Yes, Sir; I am informed by the Inspector that there is a growing use of roburite in the Lancashire collieries. It is a useful explosive and practically safe for use in fiery mines. I gather from newspaper reports that its use has been condemned by miners as injurious to health. An inquiry was recently held into this matter by a committee of experts on which the Miners' Federation was represented, and their conclusion was that, if proper care is exercised by managers, shot-firers, and colliers, the use of roburite will not add to the harmful conditions under which the miner works. The Inspector informs me that means are now being devised for removing the fumes by ventilation before persons re-enter, and for keeping persons out of the return air, and under these circumstances he does not consider any further inquiry, at any rate at present, desirable.