§ MR. BRACE (Glamorganshire, S.)On behalf of the hon. Member for West 75 Monmouthshire I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether His Majesty's chief inspector of mines for the South Wales district has sent him any Report upon the action of the manager of the Ocean Colliery Company's western pit, and the manager of the North's Navigation Colliery Company's Wyndham pit, in refusing permission to the workmen to inspect the collieries, as provided for by general Rule 38 of The Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887; and if he will issue instructions to these managers to allow the inspection to take place at once.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI have received a Report from the inspector of mines on the matter, from which I gather that the difficulties have arisen in consequence of the appointment as examiners under general Rule 38 of men employed at other collieries. In the case of the Wyndham pit, the manager, I understand, acknowledges the right of the men to make such an appointment, but asks for some proof, by a reference or otherwise, that the strangers who are brought on to the mine premises to examine the mine are "practical working miners" as required by the Act. This seems to me not unreasonable. In the other case the colliery company demur to the appointment of strangers at all. It is clear, however, that the men employed at the colliery have the right under the Act to make such an appointment, and I am instructing the inspector to inform the company that in the event of such an appointment being made by the men employed at the colliery, the facilities required by the Act must be given.
§ MR. GLADSTONEasked for notice of any further Questions.