SECOND READING. (Hansard, 9 August 1887)

THE EARL OF MOUNT-EDGCUMBE (LORD STEWARD of the HOUSEHOLD)

, in moving that the Bill be now read a second time, said, that the Bill had come from the other House. It had reference to the mines within the Stannaries of Devonshire and Cornwall. An Act was passed in 1869 reconstituting the machinery of the Stannaries Court, and provision was also made for securing to the working miners employed by a Company priority as creditors in the event of the Company being wound up. By the present Bill it was proposed to protect the minors still further by assuring the payment of their wages even when a man was distrained upon. The 1698 wages would, in fact, constitute a first charge upon the mine. The Bill had met with general support from landowners and mine-owners. There were clauses referring to the protection of working miners and to the priority of wages, which were to be paid fortnightly instead of monthly, either in money or in "subsist;" other clauses gave the miners control over the deductions from wages and entitled them to appoint check-takers. The Bill also provided for the registration in the Stannaries of all mortgages, leases, and assignments of leases, so as to provide a greater security than now existed for all those who had to do with mining affairs. Periodical meetings of mine-owners were also prescribed, and the machinery of the Stannaries Courts were, to some extent, remodelled. He trusted their Lordships would give the Bill a second reading.