§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked whether any of the workmen of the Wellington Colliery, Whitehaven, or their representatives, were consulted before it was decided to close up the intake-airway on 13th May; and whether any communication on the subject from or on behalf of the workmen has been received at the Home Office or by the Inspector of Mines?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am informed by the Inspector of Mines that there was-opportunity for the workmen or their representatives to express their views at the time the rescue operations were abandoned and directions given to erect the stopping. Some of the workmen in the pit were present when the rescue party was withdrawn from the smoke, and the Inspector thinks that Mr. Hanlon, the miners' agent, was in the colliery office when the orders were given to complete the stopping. No representations, however, were made to the Inspector at that time or later, but between 5 and 6 p.m. on the same day, some fifteen hours after the completion of the stopping, a telegram was sent by Mr. Hanlon to me asking me to give orders that the men should be allowed to continue the attempts at rescue. I was advised that any attempt to penetrate the workings would be attended with certain death to the rescue party, and was unable to sanction further loss of life.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked whether a second outlet from the workings to the bottom of the shaft was provided in the Wellington pit, Whitehaven, such as is made compulsory in the matter of shafts or outlets from the mine by Section 169 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887; and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of introducing a Bill making the provision of such second outlet from the workings compulsory, so as to prevent the recurrence of calamities such as that which occurred at the Wellington pit?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir, I am informed that the requirement in Section 16 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887, that there must be at least two shafts or outlets with which every seam for the time being at work shall have a communication, is complied with at the Wellington pit. 1467 There are two roads—an intake and a return—from the shafts to the workings, both affording good means of ingress and egress, available for the persons employed.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIECan the right hon. Gentleman say what was the distance between these two roads, from the intake to the outlet; and whether, in addition to those, there was any means of escape from the workings?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI cannot say what was the distance between the two roads. I believe it varies in different parts of the mine. In reply to the second part, there is a general road in and the return.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEMay I ask for a reply to the last part of the question, whether he will consider the advisability of introducing a Bill making the provision of a second outlet from the workings compulsory?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI will consider that point. We are to have a general discussion this afternoon, and it might be more convenient to discuss it then.
§ Mr. GRANTMay I ask if it is not within the knowledge of the right hon. Gentleman that the delegates of the miners are fully satisfied with the efforts of the colliery company at the time of the disaster?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI do not think there is any question that everything that science and heroism could contribute were employed in the endeavour to save the lives of those who were cut off.
§ Mr. KEIR HARDIEIs it not the fact that the miners were so dissatisfied with the decision that they threatened to storm the colliery, and extra police had to be called in in order to prevent them from doing so?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is perfectly true that, undeterred by the practical certainty of immediate death overtaking any rescue party which attempted to penetrate the workings, numbers of miners, with a heroism which commands the greatest respect, were anxious, in their despair, to make another effort, but I think that unquestionably we did right to prevent them.
§ Mr. GRANTIs it right that persons should spread the report that the colliery company did not take every precaution?