§ 72. Mr. RICHARDSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the provision in Section 57 (3) of the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1911, prohibiting the employment of colliery enginemen for more than eight hours in any one day, has been put into operation; and, if not, will he state the reason for the delay?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)As I have already explained, the objections which were received to the Draft Regulations have in pursuance of the Act to be referred to a referee, whose appointment rests with the Reference Committee under Section 117 of the Act. The formation of the panel of referees and the framing of the rules for the hearing of references have necessarily required some time, but I am informed that the arrangements are now nearly complete, and that the announcement of the name of the referee appointed to hold the inquiry may be expected in the course of a few days.