§ MR. WOODS (Lancashire, S.E., Ince)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is the intention of Her Majesty's inspectors to still further prosecute the experiments in regard to the alleged dangerous nature of coal dust in initiating and intensifying explosions in coal mines; and, if so, whether he would recommend that in any future experiments tests should be made in the underground workings as well as in the shafts?
§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydfil)At the same time I will ask the right hon. Gentleman if, in view of the doubt still existing in the minds of many persons engaged in colliery operations as to the effect of coal dust in producing and intensifying explosions in mines, he will cause experiments similar to those made by Mr. Hall at Ormskirk, and at the Southport and Big Lady pits, to be made in other mining districts, especially 1008 in South Wales, so as to give to those resident in the various districts an opportunity of witnessing them.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.I will answer the two questions together. Mr. Hall's experiments show that a coal dust explosion may be initiated without fire-damp, and throw valuable light upon the degrees of dangerousness of different dusts and different explosives. The Commissioners have expressed a decided opinion that no more experiments are required, and that the matter is ripe for legislation, and in that opinion I concur.
§ MR. WOODSIs it not a fact that the experiments carried out by Mr. Hall are made by him in the shafts, which would produce very different results to experiments made in the underground workings, where alone the ordinary conditions of mining will be found?
§ MR. ASQUITHThat, of course, is a matter on which I must defer to those who possess particular knowledge of such questions, such as my hon. Friend himself possesses; but I think I may fortify myself on the findings of the Royal Commission as to the danger of explosion from this cause, and I think that legislation may be safely entered upon in our present state of knowledge, and that I may add is a view which, I think, the House and the Government will adopt.
§ MR. D. A. THOMASBut cannot the experiments be made in South Wales so that people may have an opportunity of judging for themselves? That is the object of my question.
§ MR. ASQUITHI believe that many of the experiments have been made with coal dust taken from the South Wales collieries. I think that the evidence of the witnesses given before the Royal Commission in reference to the experiments would justify steps being taken in the matter, and I have no doubt that the people of South Wales will very willingly adopt that view.
§ MR. D. A. THOMASFrom how many South Wales collieries was coal dust obtained?
§ MR. ASQUITHThat I cannot say.