148

Power to
direct formal
investigation
of accidents
and cases of
disease,

Ch. 30. No. 2.] Factories.

adjourned inquest, send to the inspector for the district
notice in writing of the time and place of holding the
inquest.

(3) The following persons shall, subject to the power
of the coroner to disallow any question which in his opinion
is not relevant or is otherwise not a proper question, at
any such inquest as aforesaid, be entitled to examine any
witness either in person or by counsel, solicitor or agent,
that is to say, an inspector, any relative of the person
in respect of whose death the inquest is being held, the
occupier of the factory in which the accident or discase
occurred or was contracted, and any person appointed in
writing by any trade union, friendly society or other
association of persons to which the deceased at the time of
his death belonged or to which any person employed in
the factory belongs, or by any association of employers
of which the occupier is a member.

(4) Where evidence is given at any such inquest
at which an inspector is not present of any neglect as
having caused or contributed to the accident or disease,
or of any defect in or about the factory appearing to the
coroner to require a remedy, the coroner shall send to the
inspector for the district notice in writing of the neglect
or defect.

40. (1) The Governor may, where he considers it
expedient so to do, direct a formal investigation to be held
into any accident occurring or case of disease contracted
or suspected to have been contracted in a factory and of
its causes and circumstances, and with respect to any such
investigation the following provisions shall have effect—

(a) the Governor may appoint a competent person
to hold the investigation, and may appoint any
person possessing legal or special knowledge to act
as assessor in holding the investigation;

(b) the person or persons so appointed (hereinafter
in this section referred to as ‘‘ the court ’’) shall hold
the investigation in open court in such manner and
under such conditions as the court may think most
effectual for ascertaining the causes and circumstances