§ Mr. DUNCANasked the Secretary for Mines whether the report of the inspector of mines who visited the collieries of the Babington Coal Company on Monday, 18th February, has yet been issued as to the conditions under which the pit ponies are being employed; whether he has found the roads of sufficient height for the ponies; and whether the condition of the ponies and the roads they had to use are such as to justify any action being taken against the proprietors of this colliery?
§ Commodore KINGI have asked the Director of Public Prosecutions to institute proceedings for alleged contraventions of the Coal Mines Act in regard to the horses employed at this company's Shady Birchwood Colliery. As the case is nowsub judice, it would obviously be improper for me to express any opinion on matters of detail.