§ EARL FITZWILLIAMpresented a petition from the coroner's jury which inquired into the death of the seventy-three persons who recently perished from the explosion of the foul air in a coal mine near Barnsley, in the West Riding of 2 Yorkshire. The petitioners prayed that means might be taken to ensure the adoption of proper means of ventilation, and also that an efficient system of inspection might be introduced as likely to be of utility in the prevention of accidents. So far as he was personally concerned, he had no objection to a system of inspection, a system already in operation as to some other purposes, and he had no doubt it might be advantageously extended to this purpose also.
The BISHOP of DURHAMurged the great importance of some means being adopted to prevent colliery accidents. The subject was well worthy the attention of Her Majesty's Government, for the loss of life was far greater than any one not connected with the working of collieries could imagine.
§ LORD WHARNCLIFFEhoped the Government would turn their attention to this most important subject. At the same time he feared the petitioners expected more advantages to arise from a system of inspection than it would be found capable of affording. In factories it might be good, but 3 in coal mines the benefit would be extremely doubtful. Besides, the parties themselves generally maintained inspection, and these accidents occurred for the most part through neglect on the part of the sufferers of the rules laid down.
LORD CAMPBELLassured the noble Earl that Her Majesty's Government felt the great importance of the subject mentioned in the petition. The loss of life in coal mines was most lamentable, and it was sufficient to bring discredit on the national character that means were not taken to abate it. He feared, however, that inspection could do but little in that respect. The best inspection and supervision was from the owners and the managers of mines; and he would remind the House that by his Bill of last year, if life was lost by negligence, the surviving friends of the party would have had a remedy. There could be no doubt that if that Bill had passed, the sums awarded in damages would have made the parties more careful.