§ 29. Mr. Sextonasked the Secretary for Mines whether the attention of his Department has been drawn to the scheme of training boys in matters of safety at the Burnhope Colliery, County Durham; and whether he is prepared to urge the adoption of this principle of safety measures at all collieries?
§ Captain CrookshankI am aware of the scheme in operation at Burnhope Colliery, under which boys are employed on the surface, under supervision, and trained in haulage operations and the use of safety appliances, before going to work underground at the age of 16. While the circumstances of all collieries do not permit the adoption of methods identical with those at Burnhope Colliery, nevertheless many schemes for safety training of boys have been introduced throughout the country with beneficial results. I strongly commend these schemes, many of which have been commented upon favourably in the annual reports of my Department and of His Majesty's inspectors, and no opportunity is lost of impressing upon colliery managements the desirability of providing such training.