§ MR. WASON (Ayrshire, S.)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether his attention has been called to a defect in "The Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887," under which it would appear that, while the miners have the nominal power of appointing a check weigher to safeguard their interests, should the appointment made by them prove unacceptable to the mine-owners, the latter have the right to terminate the men's contract, and inform them that they might work on a new contract provided that they did not appoint the same check weigher; and whether he will take steps to have the law amended, so as to ensure that the miners are not deprived of their legal right to select their own check weigher?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. B. BALFOUR,) Clackmannan, &c.It appears from the decisions which have been pronounced that the right of miners to appoint a check weigher is not effectively secured to them by the existing law. The grievance pointed at in the question appears to me to be a genuine one, and I think it is very fit matter for consideration whether an attempt should not be made to remedy it by legislation.