§ MR. T. F. RICHARDS (Wolverhampton, W.)To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to an accident that occurred at the No. 1 pit of the Aldridge Colliery Company, whereby Noah Wood lost his life and William James was so injured that he was removed in a critical condition to the Walsall hospital; to what was the accident due; will he make the necessary inquiries concerning this case; and whether he can state the number of accidents at this pit during the past five years, and also the number of deaths resulting therefrom.
(Answered by Mr. Secretary Gladstone.) I have made inquiry with regard to this accident, and am informed by the inspector that it was caused by a fall of side which came away unexpectedly 642 from between two slips during the repair of a road. The place had been examined a short time previously by the fireman, who thought it so hard that it would require to be blasted down. From 1st January, 1901, to the present date nineteen accidents have occurred above and below ground at this pit, of which six (including one surface accident) were fatal, resulting in six deaths. The number employed below ground is about 550, and the death rate over the five years is 1.8 per 1,000, which is very near the general death rate for the district.