EXPLOSIVES ACTS, 1875 (38 Vict. c. 17) and 1923 (13 & 14 Geo. 5).

PUBLISHED BY HIS MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE.

To be purchased directly from H.M. STATIONERY OFFICE at the following addresses: Imperial House, Kingsway, London, W.C.2, and 28, Abingdon Street, London, S.W.1; York Street, Manchester; 1, St. Andrew's Crescent, Cardiff;

[Cmd. 2126.]

or 120, George Street, Edinburgh;

or through any Bookseller.

1924.

Price 1s. Net.

and 1923 (13 & 14 Geo. 5).

FORTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF HIS MAJESTY'S

INSPECTORS OF
OF EXPLOSIVES:

BEING THEIR

THE YEAR 1923.

ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT.

HOME OFFICE,

WHITEHALL, S.W.1.
1st January, 1924.

SIR,

In accordance with the 57th Section of the Explosives Act, 1875, we have the honour to submit the following Report on our proceedings and on the working of the Act during the year ending 31st December, 1923.

INTRODUCTORY.

Modifications of the Law.-A short Amending Act, to be cited "The Explosives Act, 1923," was passed in July. This Act provides :

(1) That in special circumstances the Secretary of State may prescribe the precautions to be taken to prevent unauthorized persons obtaining access to licensed or registered premises;

(2) An Amendment of the General Rule dealing with the employment of young persons in " danger buildings "; (3) An Amendment of the penalties for keeping explosives in an unauthorized place and for a breach of the General Rules applying to registered premises;

(4) That the Minister of Transport may in certain circumstances make bye-laws under Section 34 of the principal Act to apply to a dockyard port.

This Act does not apply to Northern Ireland.

As (2) of the above-mentioned provisions applies only to premises for gunpowder, it was necessary to apply the amended rule to premises on which other explosives are made and kept by means of four Orders in Council and an Order of Secretary of State. These were duly issued as Orders in Council Nos. 2A, 3A, 4A, 6D, and Order of Secretary of State No. 2A.

Staff.—While this Report was in course of preparation, the Department suffered a severe loss by the death of Major Henry Coningham, who had been an inspector for nearly 16 years. Major Coningham was a most conscientious and reliable public servant and a good colleague, whose technical knowledge and experience were invaluable, and whom it will be difficult to replace. He passed away on February 4th, 1924, after a long illness consequent on a very serious operation he was compelled to undergo in September, 1923.

Chemical Advisers. It is with considerable regret that we have to record that the long connection between the Explosives Department and the 'Dupré family has at last been severed. This connection actually dates from the year 1871, when the late Dr. Auguste Dupré, F.R.S., was invited to assist in the investigation into the cause of the great guncotton explosion at Stowmarket, which occurred in August that year. On Dr. Dupré's death in 1907, his twin sons, Messrs. P. V. and F. H. Dupré, were entrusted with the chemical work of the Department, which they carried out until the 31st March last, to the entire satisfaction of the Department, and, we have reason to believe, with the complete confidence of the explosives industry. For reasons of public policy, however, it was decided to transfer the duties of the chemical advisers to the Research Department, Woolwich. This was done at the beginning of the financial year, Mr. F. H. Dupré being appointed chemist-in-charge of the particular department dealing with our work, so that we continue to have the benefit of his exceptional experience.

Committee Work.-One of us served on each of the following Committees :

The Gas Cylinders Research Committee.

A Committee appointed by the War Office to report on
Ordnance Ammunition Depôts.

A Joint Committee on Permitted Explosives.
Explosives in Mines Research Committee.

INSPECTION WORK.

Generally. Most of the factories on our books have been inspected twice during the year, and a substantial number three times. Three factories, which were not inspected, became

(14001) Wt. 31039/C760 875 5/24 Harrow G. 79/32

A 2

Year.

extinct early in the year. The following table gives a summary of the visits of all kinds that we have paid during the year, with the corresponding figures for 1922.

Factories.-The total number of factories is now 104, of which 28 are under Continuing Certificate and 76 under licence. One new licence and 63 amending licences were issued during the year. There have been no appeals in connection with the issue of licences.

Small Firework Factories.-There are only two of these, neither of which was inspected by us. These factories are licensed and supervised by the Local Authorities.

Toy Firework Factories.-The number of these is now 21, the same as last year. Four of these were visited during the

year.

Illegal Manufacture.-Five cases of illegal manufacture came to our notice during the year, each as a result of an accident leading to personal injuries. Four of these were due to amateur mixtures of firework composition and one to extracting gunpowder from small-arm cartridges, in which case the offender was prosecuted and fined. (See accidents 100, 166, 274, 380, 381.)

Accidents.-There have been 60 accidents in manufacture during the year, causing five deaths and injury to 23 persons. Further reference is made to these in the section dealing with accidents.

Magazines.-The total number of magazines on our books is 403, the same as last year, five having become extinct and five new licences having been issued in the course of the year. Six amending licences were issued during the year.

Seizures and Proceedings.-One of us when visiting the magazine at Newthorpe, Nottingham, occupied by Messrs. J. H. Skelton, Limited, found workmen in the building carrying out repairs with steel tools, without having removed the explosive and wearing their ordinary dirty boots. Proceedings were taken against the occupiers and they were convicted and fined.

Accidents.-There have been no accidents during the year in connection with magazines.

Stores and Registered Premises.-The number of these given in the last quinquennial return in 1920 was 3,487 Stores and 19,549 Registered Premises. We found time to visit 115 Stores and 436 Registered Premises during the year. As usual we found a considerable number of minor irregularities in connection with these places, mostly in respect of the quantity kept and the keeping of detonators or safety cartridges in the same place as other explosives. In two cases seizures were made, and in six instances proceedings were taken either on our initiative or by the Local Authorities independently and convictions obtained.

Accidents.-There were five accidents on registered premises during the year, injuring three persons (Nos. 273, 331, 336, 337, 340).

So

Unlawful Entry.-Early in March, the registered premises of the Folkestone Electric Supply Company were broken into by some boys, and the locked box containing Blasting Gelatine and Detonators was opened and the explosive scattered about. far as could be ascertained none was taken away. As the explosives were no longer required they were destroyed. In April a Store at Cadoxton-juxta, near Neath, belonging to the Wernddu Colliery Company, was broken open, and 20 lb. of explosive and a number of detonators were stolen.

PACKING AND CONVEYANCE.

Special Packing Authorities.-Fifteen Packing Authorities were granted during the year; eight to allow of increased quantities in both inner and outer packages; one to allow of increased quantity in the outer package; two to allow of increased quantities in the inner package; one to allow metal in the construction of the outer package; one to allow the packing of more than one explosive in an outer package; one to allow the packing of explosive for transmission to the Testing Station at Ardeer, and one for the conveyance of an unauthorized explosive for export.

Illegal Marking.-At two magazines, cases of explosives were found by one of us not marked in accordance with the requirements of Order of Secretary of State, No. 7, and the attention of the occupiers of the magazines in question was drawn to the irregularity.

Illegal Conveyance.-One of us, when visiting a magazine, found carters taking away detonators and gelignite in the same van. The irregularity was pointed out, and the gelignite was returned to the magazine.