§ 63. Mr. HANCOCKasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been 416 called to the violations of the Goal Mines (Eight Hours) Act at the Eastwood Collieries, Notts, on various dates, but more especially on 18th and 21st June, when men were kept at work in the collieries eleven hours in the one case and twelve hours in the other; and whether he will have these cases inquired into?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe matter has already been engaging the attention of the inspectors. The management explain that on the occasions referred to in the question the men were detained under the exception in the Act which allows emergencies or work uncompleted through unforeseen circumstances to be dealt with in order to avoid serious interference with the work of the mine; and state that if the work had not been done the men in the following shift would not have been able to work. It appears that the conditions of the mine give rise to difficulties in working the coal-cutting machines, but I am informing the management that the exception can only be used where the delays are unforeseen and not in cases where the conditions are such as habitually to give rise to delays; in the latter cases due allowance should be made for the occurrence of delays when arranging the work in connection with the machines. The inspectors will continue to give the matter their attention.