MR. CARVELL WILLIAMS (Notts, Mansfield)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in accordance with his promise on the 17th of August, he has made inquiry as to the practice of taking into metalliferous mines packets containing five pounds of explosives, instead of four pounds as required by law; whether he has ascertained that Mr. Dickinson, the late Inspector of Mines, was of opinion that the use of five-pound packages is safer, as well as more convenient, than that of four-pound packages; and whether he has considered the expediency of proposing an alteration of the law, with a view to bringing it into harmony with the existing practice?
§ MR. ASQUITHI believe that five-pound packets of explosives are used in metalliferous mines. The practice is not legal; but Mr. Dickinson, the late Inspector of Mines, was of opinion that the five-pound packets were not only safer, but more convenient than the four-pound packets. I am anxious to propose, and hope to be able to propose, the necessary alteration in the law which will allow the use of these five-pound packets.