§ Mr. C. EDWARDSasked the Secretary for Mines whether he is aware that colliery firemen and examiners are constantly called upon to do work other than that prescribed in the Mines Act; that these men, being in the employ of the colliery company, are under the absolute control of the manager and subject to his orders, and consequently not free to do what in their opinion may be necessary; and whether he will introduce legislation for the purpose of making these men State officials, so that there shall be at least one man in every district free from interference and independent of the management, the same to be paid from national funds which may be recovered from the industry?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe hon. Member's proposal is incompatible with the basic principle of the Coal Mines Act, 1911, which is to vest the control and direction of a mine in one person—the manager—and I am not prepared to adopt it. But if the hon. Member will give me particulars, I shall be glad to have inquiry made into the cases in which he suggests that, in contravention of the Act, firemen and deputies are being prevented from carrying out their statutory duties thoroughly.