§ SIR WILLIAM BULLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will enumerate the chambers of commerce, mercantile associations, and similar bodies which have memorialised the Department against the Mines (Eight Hours) Bill to date.
§ LORD R. CECILI beg also to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many deputations have waited upon him in opposition to the Mines (Eight Hours) Bill; what industries they represented; what was the amount of capital involved; and the number of men employed in the represented industries.
THE SECRETARY or STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLAD-STONE,) Leeds, W.I received a deputation from the Mining Association 936 of Great Britain in January, and I have since received four other large deputations consisting of bodies most of which were in opposition to a bank to bank eight hours Bill. Besides the Mining Association of Great Britain, thirteen associations concerned in the manufacturing and transport industries of the country, and a large number of chambers of commerce were represented. The amount of capital and employment represented by these deputations was very great, but I cannot undertake to calculate it. I have also received numerous memorials and resolutions in writing, but there would be no advantage in the lengthy enumeration of these, as it may be taken for granted that all large consumers of coal are opposed to any measure which they think would bring about a material and permanent increase in price. It will be for Parliament to decide whether such an increase is probable or possible.