§ MR. C. E. SCHWANN (Manchester, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, with reference to the case of David Pogson, of Marndon, who died from the effect of a blow from a flying shuttle in December last, as the loom was a fast Dobcross loom, known as a 70 to 80 pick per minute loom (as was shown at the Coroner's inquest), it was the duty of the District Inspector to have insisted on the looms in Messrs. James Crowther and Sons' mills, in which the accident happened, being fenced or protected, even prior to the late decision of the Recorder of Blackburn; and, can the Home Secretary, with the aid of experts, lay down or fix a limit of speed, taking into consideration the conditions of width of loom, etc., above which it shall be compulsory on all millowners in trades in which shuttles are used to have them efficiently protected by guards?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI am satisfied that there has been no neglect of duty on the part of the Inspector. The use of shuttle guards has been gradually introduced and extended during the last few years, until the efforts of the Inspectors were suspended by the Blackburn decision, now reversed by the High Court. It is intended now to require the provision of these guards whenever serious danger, preventable by their use, is reasonably anticipated; but I have no power to lay down the limit of speed which shall be held to constitute danger, even if it were possible to make any rule.