- LTD THE EDITOR Or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sin - ,—As -the
result of my letter kindly inserted in your issue of the 6th inst. several people have written asking for more information- upon the subject of pit ponies. The alleged cruelties are Ponies are regularly worked sixteen-hour shifts with just two or three short intervals for food and water taken in the workings. Ponies frequently drop through sheer exhaustion. (2) Cruelties practised by boys, who during the last three hours of- these long shifts are practically unable to get-their. jaded ponies along the difficult roads. (3) Working blind ponies. (4). Ponies worked with sores due to badly fitting or worn collars and' limbers. One does not suggest that every pit offends in all these respects, but probably there are not half=a-dozen to which at least one of these charges &es not apply; Any one intimate with miners is appalled by the stories oreraelty which are continually happening. The evidence is overwhelming, but still' the Home Office has done practically nothing in the matter. Things are gradually improving, not because of the influence of' Inspectors, but- because the mine-owners are slowly finding that it does not pay- to ignore persistent and: very flagrant cruelty; At present; however, theydo-say -that. by working a pony to death they save the cost- of- another, and. so* long as they hold'thi§ view it will- be impossible to hope for any real improvement:in:the:unhappy-lot of the ponies Condemned' to work- and live in darkness below ground: Happily, -how, ever; the Royal' Cbmmission on Mines, now sitting, has just begun thoroughly to consider the matter. The facts are So irrefutable-'that the Cbmmiisioners are-, bound to Mirk§ some recommendation. The great: question ik—What remedies will adequately meet the ease?. It has- been. suggested that the HomoOffiee-can revolutionise- matters merely. by issuing new and more- detailed, regulations. about the reporting of accidents, and cruelties: to. ponies. But- surely the time- is pastier such- weak:action-as, this; The Home . Office - and its Inspectors: have; proved themselves; either:. indifferent, tos, or unable: to. present,.thes cruelties. Sanelymowsif ever, is the time for: draetio-remediesaand one feels that- tht:s minimum, demands- one-can:pat to aress—(1) No pony to be allowed to- work. for, more than,- eight . hours- oat. of any' Sixteen; (2) Inspectors; ofthe Royal Society for the Prevention on-- Cruelty to Animals to have the right to-jos/test:the potties, in. any pit at any time wittarpmitas-notice. Admittedly this introdneetrasnoWiiiinSiple,-but surelygreit's evils.: need: novel
and drastic renielliets-4am,' Sir, &c., • - • that something- were done. In the circumstances it is no doubt difficult to get evidence, but our correspondent's state- ments certainly surprise us. In any case, we must trust to the increased numbers or efficiency of Government Inspectors, who can always be made to respond to public opinion. The principle of giving compulsory powers to a private Society might lead to many. abuses,—ED. Spectator.]
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