§ 32. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked whether His Majesty's inspectors of mines will, as heretorfore, be responsible for the inspection of pit ponies with a view to ensuring their proper housing, feeding, and treatment, and the special horse inspectors, constituted by Section 109 of the Mines Act, 1911, form an auxiliary staff of experts to aid in such inspection, or whether, in future, the duty of inspecting such animals will be discharged exclusively by the latter?
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHThe duty will devolve specially on the new class of horse inspectors, but not to the exclusion of the mines inspectors, who will, as hitherto, be responsible for the enforcement of all the requirements of the Act, including the provisions as to horses. The horse inspectors will act under the supervision of the mines inspectors.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTWill the main responsibility still rest with the inspector of mines as regards animals inspected?
§ Mr. ELLIS GRIFFITHThe initial responsibility will rest with the inspectors when acting under the supervision of the mines inspector, but the final responsibility is with the mines inspector.