§ 13. Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that on 9th February, Annie Knapton, aged 14, had her arm and hand caught in machinery at Whetley Mills, Bradford; that on 10th February, Robert Maloney, aged 16, suffered serious injuries to both arms and the right foot through being caught up and taken round the shafting at Messrs. Blair and Sumner's Mill Hill Bleach Works; that on 15th February, Arthur Saville had his right arm torn off in the machinery at which he was working in Messrs. Hathorn Davey's works at Leeds; and that Harold Wyke, employed at the Leeds and Bradford Boiler Company, was taken to the infirmary suffering from a smashed thumb and a broken arm; and whether he will introduce legislation to strengthen existing regulations for the safeguarding of the workers from unnecessary accidents?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have seen reports on these four accidents. It appears that in one case proceedings are being taken against the occupier for a breach of the Act; in another, the question of a prosecution is under consideration; in the ether two cases the 684 accident seems to have been entirely due to the action of the injured person himself and could not have been prevented by any Regulation. I am advised that none of these cases reveals any weakness in the existing Regulations; but there are various points on which the law ought to be strengthened, and I would propose to deal with these in the Factories Bill.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKWhen is my right hon. Friend going to introduce the Factories Bill? If he cannot find either the time or the courage to introduce a Bill himself, will he give a Second Reading to the Bill of the Labour party?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am sorry my hon. Friend accuses me of lack of courage—
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKI do.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am going to show my courage by asking my Noble Friend to vote against the Labour party's Bill, and to wait for the better Bill of His Majesty's Government.
Viscountess ASTORDoes the Home Secretary realise that the present Bill of the Labour party is an old Conservative Bill revived?