§ MR. E. H. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S. W.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention has been drawn to the report of an inquest held on the 27th instant on the body of a girl named Lins, employed at Messrs. Frost's rope-works, Commercial Road, whose death was caused by her head being caught in a lift; and to the observations of the coroner, who expressed astonishment that, although notified, no factory inspector thought it worth while to attend, and complained of the callous manner in which Messrs. Frost and the factory inspectors had treated the whole matter; and, whether he will state why a factory inspector did not attend the inquest?
§ SIR MATTHEW RIDLEYI am informed that the coroner's notice did not reach the inspector in time to allow of his attending. In cases where short notice has been given it is usual for the coroner to adjourn the inquest to allow of the factory inspector's attending. After January 1 next, under the new Factory Act, he will be required by law, 1247 unless the jury think the presence of an inspector unnecessary, to adjourn the inquest and give the inspector at least four days' notice. ["Hear, hear!"]
§ Mr. PICKERSGILLasked when the notice from the coroner reached the inspector?
§ SIR MATTHEW RIDLEYMy information is that it did not reach the Home Office in time for a communication to be made to an inspector.
§ MR. PICKERSGILLBut when did the notice reach the Home Office?
§ SIR MATTHEW RIDLEYI am not able to say. I think the evening before the inquest was held, but I will let the hon. Gentleman know more exactly.