§ (1) Where props or props and bars or chocks are used to support the roof at the working face, the roof under which any work of getting coal or filling tubs is carried on shall be systematically and adequately supported, and the props or 1584 chocks shall be set at such regular intervals and in such manner as may be specified in the notice hereinafter mentioned.
§ (2) Holing props or sprags shall be set as soon as practicable, and shall be set at such regular intervals and in such manner as may be specified in the notice hereinafter mentioned, and shall not be removed before the roof supports (if any) have been advanced in the manner specified in the notice.
§ (3) In all parts of a roadway in which sets or trains of tubs are coupled or uncoupled, the roof and sides shall be systematically and adequately supported, and in such parts and in all other parts of the roadway the roof or sides of which require to be supported, if props or bars are used as supports, such supports shall be set at such regular intervals and in such manner as may be specified in the notice hereinafter mentioned.
§ (4) The manager shall by notice specify the manner in which the supports are to be set and advanced, and the maximum intervals to be observed on roadways between the supports, and at the face—
- (a) between each row of props;
- (b) between adjacent props in the same row;
- (c) between the front row of props and the face;
- (d) between the holing props or sprags;
- (e) between chocks or each set of cogs:
§ Provided that the interval between holing props or sprags shall in no case exceed six feet.
§ (5) If the inspector of the division considers that the system of supporting the roof and sides adopted in any part of a mine is unsatisfactory, either by reason of the distances fixed or any of them being excessive or otherwise, he may require the manager to fix some less distance or otherwise modify the system, and the manager shall comply with the requisition unless he disputes the reasonableness thereof, in which case the dispute shall be settled in manner provided by this Act for settling disputes.
§ (6) This Section shall not apply to the mines of stratified ironstone in the Cleveland district or of thick coal in the South Staffordshire district.
§ (7) Nothing in this Section shall prevent a workman from setting supports in his working place at more frequent intervals than those specified in the notice aforesaid, where necessary for safety.
§ Amendment made: In Sub-section (2), after the word "removed," insert the words "until the coal is about to be taken down and."—[Mr. Masterman.]
§ Mr. S. ROBERTSI beg to move, in Sub-section (6), after the word "or," to insert the words "to any such mines worked under similar conditions in any other district, or to the mines."
The Amendment simply provides that where there are mines similar to those in the Cleveland district, the same provision shall apply.
Mr. HUNTERA later Amendment of the Government, I think, covers the position which the hon. and learned Gentleman has put before the House, and I would ask him therefore not to press his Amendment.
§ Mr. S. ROBERTSI did not notice the Amendment, and therefore I beg to withdraw the one I moved.
§ Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
§ Amendment made: In Sub-section (6), at end add the words, "or to mines in any 1586 other district as respects which the Secretary of State is satisfied that similar conditions prevail.—[Mr. Hunter.]