§ Lieut.-Colonel Dowerasked the Secretary for Mines whether his attention has been called to the closing down of the lead mines in the Alston, Cumberland, area; and what steps he proposes to take to enable these mines to reopen and prevent the consequent unemployment of large numbers of miners in this area?
§ Captain CrookshankI have received no specific representations in regard to the lead mines in the area in question, one of which has recently closed down. I regret that it is not in my power to prevent mines closing or to cause the reopening of closed mines.