§ 69. Mr. T. RICHARDSONasked when the workmen of a mine request the mines inspector (under the Coal Mines Regulation Act) to visit the mine, or when the workmen appeal to the Home Office under the said Act, whether the mines inspector and the Home Office, respectively, ought to notify the workmen's representative of the date and time of their proposed visit to the mine; and whether the workmen's local mines inspectors are entitled to accompany His Majesty's inspector on his visit down the mine?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe inspectors are instructed, when visiting in consequence of a complaint, not to send notice of the visit if doing so would be likely to frustrate the object of the visit; and as a general rule it is desirable that such visits should be surprise visits. If, however, an inspector, when visiting at the request of the workmen's representatives appointed under Section 16, finds it necessary for the purposes of the inquiry to give notice to the management, it would be proper for him to let the workmen's representatives know also. No authority is given to the workmen's inspector by the Act to accompany an inspector in his inspections, but I am not aware that permission is ever refused by the management when the inspector thinks it desirable they should be present.