§ 41. Mr. R. RICHARDSONasked the Secretary for Mines what is the earliest and the latest times of shifts at which boys of under 16 years of age are taken into the mines in Durham county, and at what time the latest shifts leave the mines?
§ Commodore KINGThe most recent information in my possession relates to April, 1927. The times at which the various shifts in Durham start and finish vary from pit to pit, and instances can he found of shifts which include boys either ending just before, or starting just after, midnight. In April, 1927, it was found that 838 boys under 16 years of age were working after 9 p.m. and 1,076 before 5 a.m.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that boys are taken into the pits at one or two o'clock, and do not come out until between two and three next morning; and does he consider that those are reasonable hours?
§ Commodore KINGI think the hon. Member will realise that, with regard to pit-boys, it is very often the fathers who like to have their sons working with them. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"] That is what I am informed, and that is my answer—that in these circumstances I cannot see any reason why it should be stopped.
§ Mr. J. H. THOMASIf the father happened to be a criminal, would the Government be justified in that view?
§ Commodore KINGI see no comparison with this matter at all. It is merely a question of working shifts which work through the night. If the father is working on the night shift, in some cases he may wish to have his own boys working with him.
§ Mr. RICHARDSONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware of what nearly every miner knows, namely, that these boys are working in no connection with their fathers at all? They may be working miles apart, and these are the regular hours for taking the boys into the pits and letting them out?
§ Miss WILKINSONIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that the argument he has just used is the argument used by Indian coalowners for having women and babes employed in the mines in India?
§ Commodore KINGI am not aware of that fact.
§ Mr. LAWSONWho gave the hon. and gallant Gentleman that information? Is he aware that there is not a single case such as he has mentioned in the North of England?
§ Mr. BATEYIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that these long hours for the boys have only commenced since the Government passed the Eight Hours Act?