HC Deb 21 July 1890 vol 347 cc370-2
MR. CONYBEARE

I wish to ask the Home Secretary a question of which I have given him private notice. It is whether his attention has been called to the report of a speech made a few days ago by Mr. Pinching, Government Inspector of Mines in Cornwall, with reference to the excessive mortality among Cornish miners? He said— Their friend Mr. Conybeare asked two questions in the House of Commons on the previous night with regard to the unsanitary condition of Cornish mines. He thought Mr. Conybeare was mistaken in his question, end mistaken in his premisses. He did not mean the unsanitary condition of the mines in the ordinary acceptation of the term, but the unsanitary condition of the air in the mines. He did not think it would be a breach of confidence to say that he had the pleasure of replying to the questions. Since the Report of Dr. Ogle was written, the conditions had much altered. The excessive mortality of Cornish miners was attributed to excessive ladder climbing and bad air. Since the Report was written, he was able to say the causes had been almost entirely eliminated by the improvements in machinery adopted for raising and lowering men, and boring machinery which produced a current of air in foul ends; and except the men themselves were guilty of an omission, there was no danger whatever to be expected from phthisis, which was the miners' complaint. He hoped the question would be answered that afternoon, and the answer would probably relieve their friend's mind. I wish to know whether the inquiry promised last Monday has taken place, and whether the Inspector has presented any Report thereon; whether it is part of the duty of a Government Inspector who has been instructed to hold such an inquiry to prejudice beforehand the case by making such ex parte statements in after-dinner speeches, and whether, having regard to the fact that by his speech Mr. Pinching has destroyed all confidence in the value of any Report he might hereafter present on this subject, he will cause the promised inquiry to be held by some independent and impartial authority?

MR. STUART WORTLEY

The Inspector replied provisionally by telegram to the inquiries which the Secretary of State addressed to him when the hon. Member first placed his question on the Paper. Such reply did not arrive in time to enable its substance to be given in the House. It was to the same effect as the words used in the speech referred to. The full written Report from the Inspector has not been yet received, but is daily expected. The Inspector when he made the speech was no doubt under the belief that the substance of his telegram had by that time been communicated to Parliament, and he was probably anxious to allay as soon as possible any further anxiety that might be felt on the subject. The Secretary of State is not aware of any circumstances calling for any inquiry other than what it is the duty of the Inspector to conduct, and which he can be perfectly trusted to conduct with impartiality.

MR. CONYBEARE

The question was asked this day week in the House, and yet full particulars are not yet forthcoming. Will the right hon. Gentleman, with a view to satisfying the population of Cornwall in this matter, order a public and impartial inquiry at which the men can be represented? My constituents demand it, and nothing less than that will satisfy them.

MR. STUART WORTLEY

If the question is of such gravity, it seems to me that the hon. Member should have given notice.

MR. CONYBEARE

Then I beg to give notice that I shall give notice.