§ MR. PICKARD (York, W.R, Normanton)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to a statement made by Mr. Martin, Inspector of Mines for the Western Division, to the effect that although "The Mines Act, 1887," prohibits unskilled persons working at the working face of the mine unless they have worked two years at the working face of the mine under the supervision of a skilled workman, four unskilled workmen may so work at the working face of the mine without having worked two years under the supervision of a skilled workman; and, considering the effect such an interpretation (if correct) of this section of the Act may have upon managers of mines, what instructions he will give to the Mines 1172 Inspectors generally on a matter involving the safety of mines and the lives of the miners?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI am unable to trace in the Inspector's Report any passage bearing out the suggestion of the hon. Member, neither am I disposed to concur in the construction of General Rule 39 mentioned in the question. As I informed the hon. Member for Merthyr Tydvil in May last, I have no reason to believe that the Inspectors are unmindful of the rule or of the importance of enforcing it; and if any cases of a breach of the rule are brought to my notice I shall certainly take the necessary steps to secure its proper observance.