§ Mr. Peter FreemanI beg to present a Petition on behalf of pit ponies, signed by no fewer than 50,175 persons, praying that work now being done by pit ponies should be done by mechanical haulage, and desiring that these ponies be withdrawn from the pits at the earliest possible time. There are still more than 25,000 of these shy, timid and sensitive creatures still working underground in conditions quite unnatural and harmful to their normal life. It is desired that their work shall be done by mechanical haulage and that, until they are withdrawn from the pits, it is urged that they should not be permitted to work more than one shift of eight hours per day, which is not guaranteed at the present time. I beg to present this Petition, and to hope that these claims will be brought into operation at the earliest possible moment.
§ To lie upon the Table.