HC Deb 11 May 1906 vol 157 cc92-5

Order for Second Reading read.

*MR. COMPTON RICKETT(Yorkshire, W.R., Osgoldcross) moved that this Bill be read a second time. He said the Bill was one which dealt with part of the same subject as that which had just been dealt with, and was one that could be dealt with far more suitably by a Committee upstairs than in full session of the House. The main object of the Bill was to level up bad employers to the standard of good employers. The measure had been before the House on several other occasions. The clauses were the outcome of practical experience. They had been hammered out by minors themselves in consultation with employers, and were largely for the protection of human life and limb. The Bill commenced by placing in the hands of the Secretary of State for the Home Department considerable powers for making rules and by-laws. It then proceeded with a provision, as necessary to employers as to employed, to shorten the distances between shaft and shaft, with facilities and directions for reaching the shaft as quickly as possible in case of explosion or fall of roof. There were further clauses dealing with the appointment of inspectors by a representative body in whose deliberations the men themselves would have a voice. Then came some details for the protection of the men from the carelessness or neglect of those in charge of engines at the pit head, and for securing proper communication between the mine and the engine-house. A limitation was placed on the hours of inspectors so that they might do their work efficiently. There were other matters such as the presence of practical miners on Examination Boards, Registers of Accidents and half-yearly complete examinations of mines. It was suggested that one inspector should be appointed for every 10,000 men employed; that practical persons should be summoned as witnesses at inquests; that air passages should be driven through the solid instead of being constructed of wooden casings; and, what was most important, that there should be a compulsory examination of those parts of mines not in use in which gas accumu- lated, and where the superstitious sometimes heard the sounds of knocking and voices which might be symbolical of the death which was lurking there. These were matters which could not be discussed at length in this House, but would affect the interests of hundreds of thousands of men in this country. When they reflected that the deaths of miners ran into hundreds every year; that it was not simply a question of overstrain or inconvenience, but of the life and limb of men, the happiness of families and the safety of one of the greatest industries of this country—then he submitted there was ground for asking for something more than an eight hours' day, and that some consideration should be given, even at this late hour, by the Government and the House to this Bill. He begged to move that this Bill be read a second time.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That the Bill be now read a second time."

SIR FRANCIS POWELL (Wigan)

said that this was a Bill for the safety of life, but he thought the whole of its details ought to be referred to the Committee which the Government had promised to set up. It would be injudicious on the part of the House to read the Bill a second time without some assurance from the Government that that course would be adopted. There were certain special Rules, as those acquainted with this industry were aware, in force in different districts. This Bill repealed the whole of those special rules which in itself was rather a summary procedure, and was not, so far as he knew, necessary. He was not aware, at all events, that there had been any complaints as to them. There were certain general rules adopted in the Act of 1887, which were introduced into that Act on the responsibility of the Government with the sanction of the administration of the day, and he ventured to say the House would not be justified in reading this Bill a second time without some assurance from the Government that it should be referred to the Committee.

MR. LAMBTON (Durham, S.E.)

I beg to move that the debate be now adjourned.

MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAY (St. Andrews Burghs)

formally seconded the Motion.

MR. HERBERT SAMUEL

said the whole of these questions would be discussed by the Royal Commission on Mines, and that being so, and the hour being late, the Government would not resist the Motion.

Motion made, and Question, "That the debate be now adjourned."—(Mr. Lambton,)—put, and agreed to.

Debate to be resumed upon Friday, May 25th.