§ [SECOND READING.]
§ Order of the Day for the Second Reading read.
§ *VISCOUNT ALLENDALEMy Lords, this measure is intended to repair an omission in Section 11 of the Coal Mines Act, 1911. By inadvertence the provisions of Section 11 of that Act were not extended so as to cover the case of an owner or an agent taking part in the technical management of a mine. It is obvious that there should be the same power of depriving an owner or agent, who is unfit by reason of 427 incompetence or other reason to take part in the technical management, of his certificate as exists in the case of a manager; and the increase of large colliery companies with a managing director in supreme control makes this all the more necessary. I do not suppose that your Lordships will wish me to go into the details of the Bill. I may say that it is an agreed Bill as between the colliery owners and the representatives of the men, in consultation with the Home Office, who have gone into the matter very carefully. The Bill passed through the other House on the motion of my right hon. friend the Home Secretary one day last week with even fewer words than those with which I am introducing the Bill to your Lordships to-night. If any further explanation of the details of the Bill is considered necessary by your Lordships, I will endeavour to give it. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 2ª.— (Viscount Allendale.)
§ On Question, Bill read 2ª.
§ Committee negatived: Then (Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended) Bill read 3ª, and passed.