§ 12. Mr. TINKERasked the Secretary for Mines if he is now in a position to state the result of inquiries made by his Department in respect of boys under the age of 16 working below ground in mines on the night shift, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 5 a.m.; and will he now amend the Coal Mines Act to place them in the same position as the boys who work on the surface about coal mines, who are prohibited from working at the times stated, between 9 at night and 5 the next morning?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI have been in communication both with the Mining Association and with the Miners' Federation on this subject, but I have not yet been able to secure all the information required. In any case, I am afraid I can hold out no hope of amending legislation at present.
§ Mr. TINKERIf the Miners' Federation and the Mining Association agreed to the boys underground being put in the same position as those on the surface, would the Secretary for Mines amend the Act?