HC Deb 07 August 1896 vol 44 cc202-4

(1.) In the event of any dispute arising between—

  1. (a) any two or more mining companies; or
  2. (b) any mining company and any person having any estate or interest in the mine worked by or leased to that mining company;
a Judge of a County Court exercising the jurisdiction of the Stannaries Court may, on the application of any party to the dispute, order that the matter in dispute be tried before himself or before an arbitrator agreed on by the parties or an officer of the court, and the Arbitration Act, 1889, shall apply to any such reference. (2.) For the purposes of this section the expression "mining company" shall mean any person or body of persons engaged in or formed for working mines within the Stannaries.

MR. C. A. CRIPPS (Gloucester, Sleaford)

moved, in Paragraph (b), Subsection (1), after the word "and" to insert the words "His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall or."

Amendment agreed to.

MR. ARTHUR STRAUSS (Cornwall, Camborne)

moved, at the end of Paragraph (b), Sub-section (1), to insert the words— as regards the terms of a lease, or the proper execution of such terms, or as regards the renewal of such lease, or further powers required under such lease, or desirable alterations of the terms of such lease. The Royal Commission of 1890 examined this matter closely, and it was quite certain that the landlords themselves wished that these questions of renewing leases should be submitted to arbitration. The Report of that Commission stated that if Parliament had the opportunity of passing a Bill, they would strongly recommend it to do so. There was not the least doubt that if such a court of arbitration as he suggested were established, and the Amendment he proposed were accepted, a number of mines which were now lying idle would be set to work immediately in consequence of the decisions that would be given by the arbitrators, and hundreds of men would find employment without any delay whatever, which would tend to relieve the great distress at present prevailing in mining districts. He hoped the Committee would accept his Amendment.

MR. T. M. HEALY

understood the hon. Member obtained his seat in the House by promising the miners of Camborne that he would raise the price of tin. If he could assure the Committee that the Amendment was one which was going to fulfil his promise to raise the price of tin, then he would vote with the hon. Member.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

would be glad to do anything he could to stimulate an industry in the hon. Member's constituency or elsewhere, but such an Amendment as this could not possibly be agreed to, except by the consent of all parties. It imposed a compulsory court of arbitration, with reference to the terms of the renewal of leases. It was not possible to accept such an Amendment without the consent of the whole House, and he was aware that a number of hon. Members objected to it.

MR. STRAUSS

observed that as he was anxious the Bill should pass, he would withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clause 5,—

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