§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines how many colliery companies use machinery to extract dust and dirt from hay prepared for consumption by horses and ponies in mines; whether he is aware that the use of such machinery has resulted in many cases in reducing the death rate among ponies caused by calculi or dust balls; and whether he will take steps to bring the matter to the notice of those companies who do not use the machinery in question?
§ Mr. E. BROWNSome colliery componies buy prepared feed for their horses from contractors, while others have their own central organisations for preparing it. In both cases dust-extracting machinery is used very largely in its preparation, and the death of a pit pony from calculi or dust-balls is a rare occurrence. The advantages of using clean food are unquestioned and well known, and, as the matter already receives the attention of the inspectors of horses in the course of their daily duties, I see no need to take further steps to call attention to the matter.
§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary for Mines if he is aware that certain mines horse inspectors employed by his Department have advocated the use of loose boxes in mines stables in view of the difficulty in getting ponies to lie down underground; whether he can state the number of mines in which loose boxes have been provided; and whether he will consider the desirability of issuing a circular recommending that all underground stables should have brick partitions instead of bars and owing bales?
§ Mr. E. BROWNI am not aware that the horse inspectors have advocated the general use of loose boxes in underground stables because of any difficulty in getting ponies to lie down. No such difficulty is in fact usually experienced. Loose boxes 27W are generally provided in order that sick or injured horses may be suitably treated. The use of bars or swing bales is exceptional, and nearly' all underground stables are equipped with rigid partitions of some kind. The adequacy of these and all other details of the stabling of pit ponies is subject to regular inspection by the inspectors of horses, and I consider that such matters axe more effectively dealt with in this way than by the issue of circulars in general terms.