On Tuesday a deputation from miners' insurance societies in Wales,
Cheshire, and Lancashire, whose members number 128,000, waited on Lord Salisbury at Arlington Street to pro- test against the proposal to prohibit contracting-out in the Employers' Liability Bill. Mr. Richards, who spoke for the miners of South Wales, mentioned that his society insured against all accidents, and that the fund consisted of 2346,223, of which 277,261 had been given by the masters, and 215,000' by honorary members. "The society had been damaged by the prospect of the present Bill's passing in its existing form. Employers who would otherwise join in making insurance provisions were deterred by the Bill. They only desired to be free to make the best bargain they could." Lord Salisbury, in reply, made a moderately expressed but yet firm speech in favour of freedom. I will," he ended, "resist this particular clause as far as I can, and will carefully consider all that you have proposed, and we will do our best to obtain for you that freedom which you desire." It certainly looks as if the Lords, in insisting on contracting-out plus insurance being allowed, would once again better represent popular feeling than the House of Commons.
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