§ 11. Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Secretary for Mines, whether he is aware that pumping operations were discontinued at the South Rhondda Colliery early last February, causing a great accumulation of water in the workings of this colliery in seams to the rise of the same seams which were being worked 158 at the adjacent Meiros Collieries at Llanharran, Glamorgan; and why the Mines Department permitted this situation to arise, which has resulted in the throwing out of work of about 200 miners, whose lives were endangered at the Meiros Collieries by the risk of an inundation of water from the abandoned mine at South Rhondda Colliery?
§ Commodore KINGOn 11th April, there was a small make of water in the Pentre Seam of the Meiros Colliery and the manager withdrew the workmen from the Six Feet Seam pending examination. Work has not been re-started in that seam, but in the opinion of the Divisional Inspector of Mines the position is devoid of danger.
§ Mr. JONESIs it not a fact that the South Rhondda and the Meiros Collieries which adjoin, are owned by the same parent company, Messrs. Guest, Keen and Nettlefold; and are they not responsible for providing for the safety of the whole undertaking? Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that 200 miners have been thrown out of work because of this carelessness?
§ Commodore KINGNo, Sir, I am not. As I have just informed the hon. Member, the opinion of the divisional inspector is that the position is devoid of danger.
§ Mr. JONESIf that is so, why have these 200 men been withdrawn? Was it not specifically because of the danger of an inundation of water from this abandoned mine. Ought not the hon. and gallant Gentleman to make special inquiries into this carelessness of his Department?
§ Commodore KINGNo, Sir. I presume that the reason they are not working the seam is because the seam is not economic.
§ Mr. JONESIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman prepared to give his authority for the statement that the seam is not economic; and is he not aware of the fact that this is the most valuable seam in South Wales, and that to my personal knowledge the company is making handsome profits this year out of this very seam of coal?
§ Mr. KELLYArising out of his reply, may I ask the hon. and gallant Gentle- 159 man if this is one of the mines dealt with in the catalogue of abandoned mines?
§ Commodore KINGNo, Sir. It is not abandoned.
§ Mr. JONESIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I give notice that I shall raise this question on the Adjournment.