§ MR. PICKARD (Yorkshire, W. R., Normanton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he has received a copy of a Resolution from the miners of Barrow Collieries, Barnsley, Yorkshire, in which they strongly protest against the action of -the Coroner, Mr. Thomas Taylor, in refusing to allow Mr. Dyson, who was appointed by a full meeting of the miners employed at the Barrow Collieries to represent them at the Coroner's inquest held on the body of J. W. Hoyland, who was killed at the Barrow Collieries on the 25th of April, to act on behalf of the workmen, as laid down in the 8th sub-section of Section 48 of "The Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887;" and, whether the Coroner was acting in accordance with the duties prescribed by Sub-section 8 of Section 48 of "The Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887;" and, if not, what steps he proposes to take in the matter.
§ Mr. MATTHEWSI have received a copy of the Resolution referred to. The coroner informs me he did not refuse to allow Mr. Dyson to represent the miners at the inquest. He merely told him that he would not be allowed to ask any question that he liked, upon which Mr. Dyson left the Court. The Act distinctly prescribes that the power given to the miners' representative to attend and examine any witness is to be subject to the order of the coroner. The coroner says that he is not aware that he acted in this case in any manner different from that which he has occasionally felt it his duty to do with counsel and other professional gentlemen who appear before him. In these circumstances it does not appear that the coroner acted otherwise than in accordance with the Act.