§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines if he will consider taking steps to prohibit the use of horses to pull derailed tubs on to the roads in mines, having regard to the circumstance that this practice in the Swansea division has been disapproved by His Majesty's mines inspectors for some years on account of the accidents caused thereby and apart from the strain placed upon the horses?
§ Mr. E. BROWNNo, Sir. Any attempt at general prohibition of the practice referred to would inflict much hardship on haulage workers and cause danger to them in other ways. I am not aware that it places undue strain on the horses.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines the causes of the reduction in the rates of ponies killed by accidents in the mines of Yorkshire from 70 per 1,000 in 1928 to 42 per 1,000 in 1932; and also the causes of the reduction in the injuries by accidents from 152 per 1,000 in 1928 to 143 per 1,000 in 1932?
§ Mr. BROWNAs the hon. Member is aware, the higher accident rates for horses and ponies in Yorkshire led to special efforts being made to achieve a reduction in that district. The fact, which then became apparent, that these statistics are not strictly comparable as between the various coalfields makes it difficult to assess the results of these efforts, but it is hoped that the position in Yorkshire has now been brought nearer to the level of the other districts.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines if he will consider taking steps to prohibit the practice of attaching 37W horses in front of loaded tubs sent down steep headings and inclines underground in mines, particularly in the mines of South Wales where such loaded trams or tubs contain 30 or more cwts. of coal, and to provide that they shall be supplied with proper means of braking or retarding them when going downhill and so do away with the use of horses for this purpose?
§ Mr. BROWNThe provision of proper means of braking is already compulsory in such cases as the Coal Mines Act requires suitable sprags, lockers or drags to be provided and used on all parts of roads where the gradient exceeds one in 20 and the haulage is worked by animal power. So long as these appliances are properly used, the risk of injury to the horse is reduced to the minimum and the horse could not be dispensed with without adding considerably to the labour and risk of the workers.