§ 3 and 4. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Under-Secretary of State for India (1), if he is aware that miners in the Ramganji coalfield are permitted to remain down the collieries for two or three days at a time; whether they are working the whole of the time; and, if so, are steps being taken to restrict the number of working hours in this area;
(2) whether it is proposed to amend the Indian Mines Act, 1923, by increasing the working day so as to enable miners to work a 12-hours day?
§ Earl WINTERTONAt present the daily hours during which miners may remain and work in mines are not subject to any legal maximum, but weekly hours are limited to 54 for underground-work. It is probably the case that there are few mines in which a standard of more than eight hours' daily work is maintained on the average, but in order to prevent miners from remaining underground for excessive periods a Bill has been introduced in the Indian Legislature and circulated for criticism under which a system of shifts would be enforced and a daily maximum of 12 hours' work imposed, the weekly maximum of 54 hours underground remaining unchanged.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSDo we understand the Noble Lord to say that the Bill will enable Indian miners to work a maximum of 12 hours each day?
§ Earl WINTERTONYes. The Bill is being circulated for consideration among members of the Assembly. It prevents the present system, by which there is no such limit imposed.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEIs it not the case that the object of the Bill is to try and prevent the miners staying below ground more than a certain period, rather than, as the question would infer, to make them work long hours,?
§ Earl WINTERTONThat is so, certainly. The effect of the Bill is to increase the restrictions which have been imposed in recent years upon excessive hours of miners.
§ Mr. JAMES HUDSONWill the Noble Lord take care to represent to the authorities responsible for this Bill that it would be better, in view of our experience, that that restriction should go a good deal further than the 12 hours suggested?
§ Earl WINTERTONIt would probably be rather improper for me to give any pledge of that kind, as the Bill is circulated for the opinion of members of the Assembly, and no doubt that sort of point of view will occur to the minds of members of the Assembly.