§ MR. C. E. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department—(1) whether his attention has been drawn to the case of David Poyson, of Marsden, near Huddersfield, who on the 21st December last was struck on the head by a shuttle whilst at work in the mill of Messrs. James Crowther & Sons, Marsden, and who died a day or two afterwards from the effect of the blow, which caused a compound compressed fracture of the skull; (2) is he aware that Mr. Sykes, solicitor, on behalf of Messrs. Crowther & Sons, said that his clients had decided to do what they could in the way of getting shuttle guards to prevent such untoward results; and (3) whether it is now, owing to a recent decision, compulsory on all manufacturers to provide their looms with shuttle guards; and if this be the case, will factory inspectors be instructed in future to insist on these provisions against loss of life and eyesight
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYThe answer to the first two paragraphs of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the third, the recent decision to which the hon. Member refers requires manufacturers to provide guards for shuttles which are shown to be dangerous, and enables the factory inspectors to continue the course, which has been pursued with considerable success, of requiring all dangerous shuttles to be properly guarded.