§ Mr. EDWARDSasked the Secretary for Mines whether the junior inspectors about to be appointed are to be horse inspectors in addition to their other duties; and will he consider the appointment of additional inspectors for this specific purpose, seeing that there are only eight for 3,000 mines?
§ Lieut.-Colonel LANE-FOXYes, Sir. The work of inspection of pit ponies forms part of the duty of all junior inspectors of mines. I am quite ready to consider any evidence of need for the appointment of additional inspectors to devote their whole time to this work; my information at present does not support the view that the inspection of horses at the 1,699 mines where they are used is insufficient or ineffective.