§ 35. Mr. Tinkerasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been drawn to a fatal accident at Clock Face Colliery, near St. Helens, that happened at one o'clock a.m., Wednesday, 24th February, and that the man who was killed went on his work at three o'clock p.m. on the day previous, should have completed his shift at 10.30 but was called upon to work overtime; and what action his Department will take in the matter?
§ Captain CrookshankThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the second part, I understand that, on the night in question, the coalcutter machineman was absent owing to illness, and, as the fireman did not consider that the assistant machineman was sufficiently experienced to turn the machine, he asked the deceased to stay for that purpose, and it was during this operation that he lost his life. In these circumstances there does not appear to have been any contravention of the law in regard to overtime, so that, while I deeply regret the accident, there is no special action called for on the part of my Department.
§ Mr. TinkerWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman urge His Majesty's inspectors to pay close attention to this question of overtime? Probably this case may not have been due to overtime, but a lot of overtime is being worked, and we are desirous of trying to prevent it.
§ Captain CrookshankI think the hon. Gentleman and the House know my view on that subject, but it does not arise out of this question.
§ Mr. James GriffithsDoes not the Minister think the time has arrived when men who are employed on this responsible work of operating machine cutters should be prohibited from working overtime?