§ 66. Mr. PALINGasked the Secretary for Mines how many first- and second-class mining certificates have been awarded since such certificates of competency were first established; and how many have been awarded in each of the last seven years, respectively?
§ Colonel LANE FOXAs the answer includes a table of figures, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the answer:
§ Before the operation of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, first- and second-class certificates of competency were granted under the Coal Mines Regulation Act, 1887, in pursuance of examinations held by district boards of examiners constituted by that Act. The numbers granted were 4,191 first class and 8,452 second class. Since the Act of 1911 became operative, 1,954 first-class and 2,514 second-class certificates of competency have been granted in pursuance of examinations held by the Board for Mining examinations. The numbers granted in each of the last seven years were as follows:—
| Year. | First class. | Second class. |
| 1919 | 157 | 178 |
| 1920 | 205 | 229 |
| 1921 | 152 | 209 |
| 1922 | 205 | 237 |
| 1923 | 229 | 209 |
| 1924 | 188 | 188 |
| 1925 | 198 | 149 |