§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Home Secretary whether, having regard to the number of qualified candidates for sub-inspectorships of mines and quarries who are over forty years of age, he will consider as to extending the prescribed age For such candidates at the time of examination from forty to forty-five?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe question was very carefully considered, and I regret that I do not see my way to make any alteration in the age limits. The work of underground inspection is particularly arduous, and it is important to appoint inspectors at an age when they will be physically fit for the work for a good many years.
§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTDoes that reply apply equally to inspectors of quarries who do not work underground?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is obvious that so far as the reply is based on the underground character of the mines in question it does not apply to persons who do not work underground.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs there any good reasons for preventing properly qualified persons who are over forty-five years of age from being employed in these capacities?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI say the matter was carefully considered, and I think it is in the public interest that a comparatively severe age limit should be imposed upon new entrants into the service.
§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked on what principle two out of the first fifteen appointments of sub-inspectors of mines are to be allotted to Scotland; whether any further appointments of sub-inspectors are to be made during the present year; and, if so, how many of these additional appointments are to be allotted to Scotland?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe appointments have been distributed between the different districts as nearly as possible in accordance with the amount of work to be done in each district. I propose that the remaining fifteen appointments shall be filled up later in the year, but I cannot now say exactly how they will be allotted.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYWill Scotland get its full share of them?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have reason to believe so.