§ 12. Colonel DAYasked the Secretary for Mines the number of ponies that have been used in the pits of Great Britain to the last convenient date; and whether any action has been taken by his Department, and with what result, where his notice has been drawn to neglect, ill-treatment, and over-working of such ponies?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKIn 1926, 56,762 horses and ponies were employed underground at mines in Great Britain. With regard to the second part of the question, the employment of these animals is under the systematic supervision of His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines, eight of whom devote their whole time to this work. Allegations of ill-treatment are often made in a vague and wholesale way which renders it impossible to investigate them, but I welcome this opportunity of saying that every specific complaint or allegation of neglect, ill-treatment or overwork—even if made anonymously—is promptly investigated by the inspectors, and that whenever cause for complaint is found, the matter is at once taken up with the colliery management, and compliance with the law is insisted upon. I am glad to say that, in relation to the large number of horses employed, the causes for complaint found by His Majesty's Inspectors and the number of allegations found on investigation to be justified are very small.
§ Mr. AUSTIN HOPKINSONIs it not a fact that the whole of this information 197 could have been obtained from returns in the Mines Department without wasting the time of the House?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSMay I ask whether the hon. Gentleman thinks that eight inspectors are sufficient to overlook 3,300 mines?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKYes, it is generally considered that these inspectors are able to carry out the work.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that this is not consistent with the view of those people who work in the mines and have driven these ponies themselves?
§ Colonel DAYCan the hon. Gentleman say whether there have been any prosecutions for ill-treatment of ponies, and is his Department considering bringing in legislation for the introduction of mechanical haulage?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI cannot answer that question without notice.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSIs there anything to stop miners, who observe cases of cruelty, from reporting the matter?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKNothing whatever, and the inspectors have every opportunity of putting on the records what is reported.
| Year | Average royalty per ton of saleable coal raised. | Tonnage of saleable coal raised. | |||||
| Durham. | Great Britain. | Durham. | Great Britiatn. | ||||
| d. | d. | Tons. | Tons. | ||||
| 1913 | … | … | … | Information not available. | 5½ | 41,533,000 | 287,348,000 |
| 1919 | … | … | … | 7 | 6½ | 31,009,000 | 229,687,000 |
| 1920 | … | … | … | 7¾ | 7 | 30,818,000 | 229,424,000 |
| 1921* | … | … | … | 9½ | 8 | 21,768,090 | 163,163,000 |
| 1922 | … | … | … | 8¼ | 6¼ | 34,863,000 | 249,607,000 |
| 1923 | … | … | … | 6¼ | 5¾ | 38,218,000 | 276,001,000 |
| 1924 | … | … | … | 6 | 5¾ | 36,689,000 | 267,118,000 |
| 1925 | … | … | … | 6¼ | 5¾ | 31,493,000 | 243,176,000 |
| 1926† | … | … | … | 6¼ | 5¾ | 11,340,000 | 88,351,000 |