§ Mr. GAVAN-DUFFYasked the Secretary for Mines the nature of the inquiry he proposes to hold in regard to the conditions existing in the iron-ore mines in West Cumberland; who is to hold the proposed inquiry; will the Cumberland Iron-ore Miners' and Kindred Trades' Association be consulted in connection therewith; will the inquiry embrace the effects of high rates, royalty rents, and railway charges, and their relation to the recent closing down of iron-ore mines in West Cumberland; and, if not, why these matters are not to be included?
§ Mr. SHINWELLI have not stated that I propose to hold any formal inquiry272W into the iron-ore mining industry of West Cumberland. The reply which I gave to my hon. Friend's question on February 20th, was to the effect that I proposed to make further inquiries of my own before coming to any decision as to whether a formal inquiry should be held.
§ Mr. GAVAN-DUFFYasked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been called to the death of an iron-ore miner named Wilkinson, and to the fact that the doctor has certified that this man died from miner's phthisis; that deceased was last employed as a miner on machine work at Florence Mine, Egremont, and previously worked on machines at Sir John's Mine, Bigrigg; and, having regard to the anxiety of men who are now compelled by social pressure to work under conditions similar to those which brought about the death of Wilkinson, will he take immediate steps to provide an effective remedy against the spread of this disease?
§ Mr. SHINWELLI am obliged to my hon. Friend for calling my attention to this case. The whole question of the effects of dusts on miners is under renewed inquiry by my Health Advisory Committee, and I will bring this case before them.
§ Mr. GAVAN-DUFFYasked the Secretary for Mines if his attention has been called to the fact that Wilson Mitchell, employed at Longlands iron-ore mine, Cleator, has died from the effects of an accident he met with at that mine 10 days ago; that the man's injuries were caused through one of the supports of the gantry, over which he had to wheel metal, giving way; and that the support referred to was in an advanced state of decomposition; and if there is any hope of any practical inspection being made of the plant employed on and under these mines so that regard may be had to the safety of the lives and limbs of the workers?
§ Mr. SHINWELLThe facts are as stated by my hon. Friend. Practical inspection of iron-ore mines, with a view to safeguarding the lives and limbs of the workers, is already made by His Majesty's Inspectors of Mines; but the periodical examination of timber supports of this kind is, of course, the responsibility of the management of the mine. In this case 273W I am informed that the decay of the timber could only have been discovered by the removal of the rails, sleepers and staging laid on it. The divisional inspector has the matter under investigation.