§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines whether he intends to continue the lectures by His Majesty's inspectors of mines to colliery officials and employés in regard to questions affecting the welfare of horses and ponies employed in mines; and whether special attention will
Inspection Division. Accident rate per 1,000 horses and ponies employed. Killed or destroyed in consequence of injury or accident. Injured by accident. 1924. 1928. 1932.* 1924. 1928. 1932.* Yorkshire … … 75 70 42 176 152 143 North Midland … … 48 42 32 193 149 161 Cardiff and Forest of Dean … … 46 37 30 126 108 144 Swansea … … 42 29 32 98 81 84 Great Britain … … 47 39 31 125 102 110 *Year ended 30th June, 1932. The disparity in the rates is due partly to differences in the local conditions of the various coalfields, but a special investigation which was carried out last year made it evident that there is a lack of uniformity in the compilation at the collieries of the present form of return.
1614Wbe given to the proper shoeing of the animals and also to good road conditions?
§ Mr. E. BROWNSubject to their statutory duties, which are onerous and must come first, those of His Majesty's inspectors who have aptitude for work of lecture and safety instruction are encouraged to take part in it, and they do so, often at the sacrifice of their leisure, on many matters, including those mentioned. I am in full sympathy with the general object of this question, and His Majesty's inspectors will continue work along the lines suggested, but I take this opportunity to repeat a suggestion made by my predecessors, that work of this character—particularly among boy pony drivers—could with advantage be further developed from other sources also.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines the rates per 1,000 at which horses and ponies employed underground were killed and injured in the Yorkshire, North Midland, and South Wales divisions in 1924, 1928, and in the year ended 30th June, 1932; the average rate per 1,000 horses and ponies killed and injured by accidents in mines for all coalfields in the same years; and the reasons for any disparity among the rates?
§ Mr. BROWNThe particulars are as follow:
I have at present under consideration a revision of the form in order that ambiguities may be removed and comparison facilitated.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines whether, in view of the statement 1615W made in the 1931 report of the Cardiff divisional inspector of mines as to the quantity of coal-dust produced, particularly in the steam-coal pits of this division, and the necessity to treat all roads with a layer of inert dust, he will make an inquiry as to the effect that coal-dust and inert stone-dust has upon the lungs of the horses employed; and whether these dusts tend to cause any affection or give rise to broken wind?
§ Mr. BROWNSuch inquiry has already been made, including post-mortem examinations of the lungs of horses employed in mines in different parts of the country (including South Wales). It has revealed no evidence of the lungs of horses being adversely affected by stone-dust or coal-dust.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines whether the remarks in the last report of the Cardiff divisional inspector of mines to the effect that, generally, road-laying in the mines of that division receives nothing like the attention it deserves as the frequent derailment of trams affords evidence, and that roads tend too often to become mere tracks rind a frequent cause of accidents, refer to horse-haulage roads as well as to rope-haulage roads; and whether special steps may be taken to see that the suggestions of the divisional inspector are carried out in regard to horse-haulage roads, particularly in view of the reminders of the divisional inspector as to the heavy nature of the work done by horses in the mines of South Wales?
§ Mr. BROWNThe remarks quoted by my hon. Friend apply to all types of haulage road in the division referred to. The condition of these haulage roads is already being given the special attention of the divisional inspector and his staff, and that is the reason why he dealt with the matter in such detail in his annual report.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines if he will issue instructions to prohibit the use of metal rivets in the repairing of the harness of horses used in some mines of South Wales, as recommended by the last report of the Cardiff divisional inspector, on the ground that such rivets may bend and chafe the skins of the horses; and will he couple instructions to ensure that all collars and breechings used shall be dry and in 1616W proper condition and properly fitting in every case?
§ Mr. BROWNThese matters are already governed by the existing law, which provides that no horse may be worked otherwise than with harness properly fitting and in good condition, and that any defect in the harness likely to cause pain or injury to the horse must be at once reported to the proper quarter. In the event of such a report having been made, that horse may not go out to work again until authority is given by the manager or under manager. The observance of these requirements, as of the many other requirements of the law, receives the constant attention of His Majesty's inspectors.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines whether the general pamphlet setting out directions suitable for the care and treatment of horses and ponies in the mines of the various coalfields that was mentioned to a joint deputation in March, 1931, has now been completed; and if it will soon be published by his Department?
§ Mr. BROWNThe preparation of a pamphlet for horse and pony drivers was attempted, but it was not found possible to frame in general terms a pamphlet sufficiently explicit to be really effective. Attention has been turned therefore to the development of measures taken locally with the same object in view.