§ MR. H. J. TENNANT (Berwickshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the special rules issued to aerated water factories exempting labellers from wearing face-guards, masks, or veils of wire gauze or goggles while labelling bottles standing in cases, whether that exemption is in accordance with the recommendations of the Departmental Committee appointed to inquire into the subject; and whether his attention has been called to the case of the boy Chafer, employed by Mr. G. H. Gibson, at Brigg, who in November last lost an eye from a bottle bursting whilst labelling bottles standing in cases; and whether he will revoke the exemption which prevented the boy from being adequately protected?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. W. RIDLEY,) Lancashire, N., BlackpoolThe Home Office Committee, with which the hon. Member is connected, made a general recommendation that labellers in these factories should wear face-guards, but did not discuss the question of the labelling of bottles in cases. The accident was reported on at the time, and the facts are as stated; but the hon. Member must surely be aware that I have not the power at pleasure to make or alter special rules. They must be settled either by arrangement with the employers or by arbitration, and in the present case I cannot regard the occurrence of a single accident, much as I regret it, as sufficient reason for re-opening a Question which has just been settled, after long and difficult negotiations.