§ 60. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the fact that in 1912, out of a total of 71,526 horses and ponies employed in the coal mines of the United Kingdom 2,850 suffered injuries resulting in death and 7,873 suffered non-fatal injuries, whereas in 1914, out of a total of 70,396 of such horses and ponies, 2,999 suffered injuries resulting in death and 10,878 suffered non-fatal injuries; whether there is any special reason for this increase of fatal and non-fatal injuries in 1914; and whether he will take steps or give directions which will remedy this state of affairs?
§ 61. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that in the year 1914 there were 4,870 deaths 495 of horses and ponies employed in the coal mines of the United Kingdom consequent on injury and disease (including 375 who died or had to be destroyed in consequence of old age or blindness), he will state whether the conditions under which horses and ponies are now employed in the coal mines necessarily lead to this o very great number of deaths; and whether he can, by means of more frequent inspection or otherwise, improve those conditions?
Mr. SAMUELI find that the percentages for 1914 are considerably lower than those for 1913, and that the figures for 1915, which will shortly be published, show a, further decrease. It seems probable that the Returns for 1912, which were the first Returns made under the Act, were incomplete and ought not to be taken as a basis for comparison. The situation, therefore, is more satisfactory than the published figures would indicate. The horse inspectors have instructions to watch carefully the causes of injuries to pit ponies, and to report in every case where the conditions are unsatisfactory, and, as I informed the hon. and learned Member, in reply to his recent question on the subject, I do not think that any further instructions are required.
§ Mr. BUTCHERSeeing the very large number of these deaths, is it not possible, by means of more frequent inspection, or otherwise, to diminish this number?
§ Sir GEORGE GREENWOODIs it not possible, in view of these terrible figures, to adopt the same course as has been adopted by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals by appointing more inspectors—[An HON. MEMBER: More inspectors !] —of men over military age?
Mr. SAMUELI will consider those suggestions. At the present moment the Government are very anxious not to increase the number of appointments.
§ Mr. BUTCHERIs it not possible to get men over military age?