§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the number of cases of ill-treatment of horses and ponies in mines is as high as 61 in Durham, 54 in South Yorkshire, and as low as four in South Wales and nine in West Yorkshire, during the three years ended 1931;. and whether he will
938Wgiving the figures for each Exchange separately?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe following table gives the information desired:
direct an inquiry to be made regarding this disparity?
§ Mr. E. BROWNIf my hon. Friend will compare the figures which he quotes with the numbers of horses employed in the respective districts, he will find that the disparity between Durham and West Yorkshire largely disappears. I am aware that the proportion of cases reported in South Yorkshire still remains 939W high, and that for South Wales low, as compared with the proportions for the two other districts, and I will have some further inquiry made into the matter. The figures are aggregated from an annual return made by each colliery company, and this in turn is compiled from reports made to the manager by horse-keepers and officials in charge of drivers. In these circumstances, it is very difficult to ensure uniformity of compilation, and I am sure it would not be right to draw from these figures the conclusion that there is in fact more actual ill-treatment in the one district than the other. I am satisfied from extensive inquiries made by my predecessors that deliberate ill-treatment of horses in mines is very rare.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines the type and usual size of the horses employed in the anthracite pits in South Wales; the respective weights of empty and full trams usually drawn by these horses below ground; the number of tons usually drawn by these horses per shift worked; the number of shifts worked per week; the general rise or dip of the roads, apart from levels, on which the horses work; and the average cost of each horse per week?
§ Mr. E. BROWNThere is some variation in the type of horse used in anthracite mines in South Wales according to the service required by the conditions of the particular pit. The type most commonly used is the small shire or light cart horse of about 14.2 hands. The usual weght of trams is about 10 cwts. empty and 30–36 cwts. loaded. As regards the latter parts of the question, it would be misleading to consider the relation of the task of a horse to its capacity in terms of averages or in relation only to the factors mentioned, without consideration of other important factors involved. It is essentially a matter which calls for care and judgment in the individual case, and from reports of inspections made I have no reason to think that such care and judgment are not being properly exercised in the anthracite pits. I regret that I am unable to furnish the desired information as to cost.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines the number of cases of contraven- 940W tion of the regulations in regard to the care and treatment of horse and ponies employed in mines reported to the inspectors of mines in 1932; the number of separate prosecutions or charges made as a result of these reports, convictions secured, and the amount paid in costs and fines; the number of prosecutions and convictions under the Protection of Animals Act and the fines or other form of punishment imposed in the same year; and whether these cases are confined to a few coalfields or are common to all coalfields?
§ Mr. BROWNIncluding anonymous complaints, there were 46 cases reported to the mines inspectors in 1932 in which the provisions of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, relating to animals were contravened or alleged to have been contravened. All the complaints were investigated and appropriate action taken in those which were considered to be justified. Prosecutions were instituted by the colliery owners in 17 instances, 11 under the Coal Mines Act and six under the Protection of Animals Act, the number of separate convictions being nine and four respectively, and the fines imposed (including costs) amounting to £19 11s. and £11 4s. The North-Western Division is the only one in which there were no complaints reported, but over 80 per cent. of them (including all the convictions) relate to the Northern, Yorkshire and Midland and Southern Divisions.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that the death and injury rates to the ponies employed in the South Yorkshire Division were more than twice as high during the three years ended 1931 as compared with those relating to the ponies employed in the West Yorkshire Division in the same period; and whether, having regard to the circumstance that the death and injury rates, as a result of accidents, was one in three, one in three, and one in four, for 1929, 1930, and 1931, respectively, in the South Yorkshire Division, he will direct that special attention shall be given by His Majesty's inspectors of mines in order to bring about an improvement?
§ Mr. BROWNI am aware that for the three years ended 30th June, 1931, the death and injury rates to horses employed 941W in the mines of South Yorkshire were much higher than in West Yorkshire, the chief reason being that in the latter district the conditions are less dangerous, largely because, owing to the relative shallowness of the mines, it is easier to keep the roads in a more settled condition. The same factor operates in regard to accidents to persons, as was shown in the Divisional Inspector's report for 1929. His Majesty's inspectors of mines already give the matter their unremitting attention, and will continue to do so, and by the efforts of all concerned
Period. Output per man shift worked by all workers employed above and belowground at coal mines in Great Britain. Lancashire and Cheshire. Lancashire, Cheshire and North Staffs. 1921— Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. January-March … … … 14.46 12.31 12.39 April-September … … … Not available Not available Not available. October-December … … … 17.73 14.42 14.46 Year 1922 … … … 18.02 Not available 14.61 Year 1923 … … … 17.83 14.78 Year 1924 … … … 17.59 14.45 Year 1925 … … … 18.02 14.68 Year 1932 … … … 21.99 17.60 18.46