§ 68. Mr. WADSWORTHasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a copy from the Miners' Federation of Great Britain of Messrs. Smillie and Hartshorn's Report of the inquiry held into the Cadeby Main Colliery disaster of the 9th July last year, and in which they allege there were breaches of the Coal Mines Act; whether he is satisfied that such breaches of the Coal Mines Act did take place; and, if so, whether it is his intention to take any action against the management at this colliery?
69. Mr. FRED HALL (Normanton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received a copy from the Miners' Federation of Great Britain of Messrs. Smillie and Hartshorn's Report of the inquiry held into the Cadeby Main Colliery disaster of 9th July last year, and in which they allege there were breaches of the Coal Mines Act; whether he is satisfied that such breaches of the Coal Mines Act did take place; and, if so, whether it is his intention to take any action against the management at this colliery?
§ Mr. McKENNAI have received a copy of this Report from the Miners' Federation. As regards the two points on which the Report alleges breaches of the Act, the chief inspector, as a result of his inquiry, came to the conclusion that the requirements of the Act had not been complied with on these points, but he formed the opinion that the responsibility lay 1882 primarily with the manager who lost his life; and that, in the circumstances set out in his Report, and in view of the fact that the fire would in all probability have been got under without accident had the directions of the managing director been carried out, proceedings could not be taken with any prospect of success against the managing director. I have addressed a letter to this effect to the Miners' Federation. The report of Mr. Smillie and Mr. Hartshorn was not forwarded by the Miners' Federation to the Home Office until 30th May, whereas the time allowed by the Act for the institution of proceedings had expired on 8th January.
§ Mr. BRACEArising out of the Home Secretary's reply, may I ask him, Is he aware that at the inquiry, presided over by Mr. Redmayne, the Chief Mines Inspector, into the causes of the Cadeby Colleries explosion, in which eighty-eight lives were lost, Mr. Chambers, the managing director of these collieries, declared that he would not, under similar circumstances in the future, withdraw the workmen from the mine, despite the fact that it is a grave violation of the Coal Mines Regulation Acts not to do so; in face of such a declaration, in which he wholly fails to realise his responsibility to human life, does the Home Secretary consider that Mr. Chambers is a fit and proper person to have miners' lives continued under his control?
§ Mr. McKENNAI do not think it would be possible for me to argue the case with my hon. Friend by way of answer to a question. But I have consulted with Mr. Redmayne on this point, and I am informed by him that there is no power under the Act—even if there were a case—to proceed against the managing director. There is power, under Section 11 of the Act of 1911, to institute an inquiry into the competency of the holder of a certificate, if the holder of that certificate is performing the duties of manager. But Mr. Chambers was not performing, at any rate at the time, the duties of manager, but of managing director of the company, and, as managing director, he would not be liable to any proceedings. The manager, who would have been liable, and who, on the report of Mr. Redmayne, it is shown did not conduct the proceedings as they should have been conducted, was unfortunately killed: consequently, both on the ground of time and on the ground of personal responsibility, there is no possibility of taking any action.
§ Mr. BRACEIn consequence of the unsatisfactory reply of the right hon. Gentleman, I shall at the end of questions, ask leave of the House to move the Adjournment, so as to inquire into this matter, which is of vital importance to the miners of this country.
At the end of Questions——
§ Mr. BRACEI beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, in order to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the continued failure of the Home Secretary to take action under the Coal Mines Regulation Act, so as to protect the lives of miners against the declared policy of the management of the Cadeby Main Colliery, which has been shown in the report of the Chief Inspector of Mines to have resulted in the loss of lives on the 9th July, 1912.
§ Mr. McKENNAMay I say a word on the question of urgency?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI shall have to leave that matter to the House to decide. I do not think the hon. Member would be entitled to ask for leave to move the Adjournment on the ground that the matter is urgent, unless, in his opinion, the lives of the miners engaged in this colliery are in danger owing to some action or non-action on the part of the Home Office. If the hon. Member alleges that, I ought not stand in his way of making that good.
§ Mr. BRACEI do. I am much obliged, Sir.
The pleasure of the House having been signified, the Motion stood over, under Standing Order No. 10, until a Quarter-past Eight o'clock this evening.