§ House in committee on the Coroners Bill.
182§ Mr. W. Pattensaid he thought that by giving an uniform remuneration, some Coroners would receive too much, and great burthens be flung on the rate payers.
§ Mr. Wakleyexplained the nature of the diversity of payment in different situations. On the Surrey side of the Thames a coroner's jury was paid 12s. for attendance, while on the Middlesex side of the river they were allowed nothing. He had never, on this account, ever found a difficutly in obtaining a jury; but the deficiency of any payment was certainly a cause of considerable dissatisfaction. In some counties one pound was allowed for the care of a body until an inquest could be held, while in other counties the remuneration was only 6d. In some districts the constable was allowed 9d. per mile for conveying information of the necessity of an inquest, and in other districts lie obtained nothing. These inequalities certainly required regulation, and he was able to state that the coroners were willing to leave the whole matter in the hands of Parliament, and would be satisfied with any change in the law that might appear to be for the general advantage.
§ Bill went through committee, pro forma, amendments were introduced, and the House having resumed, the bill was ordered to be recommitted.