§ 70. Mr. C. EDWARDSasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that colliery firemen and deputies, whose services should be solely to look after the safety of the mines, are called upon to perform various other duties, which takes up much of their time and prevents them from giving their constant attention to the important work which they are ostensibly engaged to do; and whether he will consider making them Government officials responsible to and paid by the State out of funds collected from the industry?
§ Mr. SHINWELLI am not aware that firemen and deputies are required to undertake duties which prevent them carrying out their statutory duties in a thorough manner, and if my hon. Friend has information of any such breach of the Coal Mines Act I shall be obliged if he will let me have it, in order that steps may be taken to enforce the law. I do not think that the proposal in the latter part of the question is really practicable without nationalisation of mines.