HC Deb 15 February 1911 vol 21 cc1040-2
Mr. MARKHAM

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he would say who was the last Government chief inspector of mines who obtained his position, and in what year, as a result of open competition without any nomina- tion; and whether, seeing that the late Mr. Stokes's district was one of the safest and best regulated in the kingdom, he would revert to the practice formerly prevailing of allowing all practical miners an opportunity of filling these high positions without private nominations?

The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Churchill)

I have made inquiry and find that shortly after the Order in Council of 1870, one or two open competitive examinations were held for inspectorships of mines, though this was not in fact required by the terms of the Order. The last such examination took place in January, 1875; the successful candidate was the late Mr. Ronaldson, who was for many years in charge of the West Scotland district. Since that time the present system has prevailed of making the appointments by means of competitive examinations limited to candidates nominated by the Secretary of State after careful consideration of the qualification of applicants, and I see no ground for changing it. A mines inspector requires special qualifications which cannot satisfactorily be tested by examination only. I may add that the Royal Commission on Mines have recommended the adoption of the same system of limited competition for the new class of sub-inspectors. My hon. Friend must be aware that there are no private nominations for these posts: all nominations are given by the Secretary of State.

Mr. MARKHAM

How does the right hon. Gentleman become acquainted with these men? Is it not a fact that during the last week there have been a number of applicants at the Home Office for these posts of inspectors? How can vacancies become known to the mining world? They are quite unknown to the mining world.

Mr. CHURCHILL

I do not myself see these gentlemen personally, but a regular process is followed in sifting the nominations and applications by various people, and I approve generally of that process as I do of a great many others which are carried on.

Mr. MARKHAM

But the Mansfield Division has had none of these appointments.

Mr. WEDGWOOD

Under these circumstances, how can you avoid the suspicion of favouritism? You receive recommendations from different Members of the House. How, under a system of plain nomination, can you prevent the feeling growing up that different Members and different Constituencies are not receiving fair play?

Mr. MARKHAM

asked the Home Secretary can he say when the conditions under which working-men lower grade inspectors of mines are to be appointed will be issued; and what steps he proposes taking to have these conditions circulated in the mining districts?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The particulars will be issued shortly, and I propose to give them as wide publicity as possible in the newspaper Press, especially in the mining districts.