§ MR. GILLI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the factory department have concluded their investigations regarding better ventilation in cardrooms in cotton mills; Whether he is satisfied that more efficient apparatus can now be affixed for taking away the dust, etc., which is caused by the stripping and grinding of carding engines; and, if so, Whether he is prepared to issue an order making it compulsory on all employers to adopt such improved methods on an early date.
§ MR. GLADSTONEThe subject has been engaging the attention of both the manufacturers and the inspectors. A number of different appliances for removing the dust are being tried, and 1860 the results already obtained are such as to show that the dust can be successfully removed without undue cost. The matter is still in the experimental stage, and further experience as to the respective efficiency of the various methods is necessary before a definite requirement can be imposed. The inspectors, however, have instructions to keep the matter before the manufacturers, and I hope that in the course of a few months sufficient progress may have been made to enable the Department to take definite action.