§ MR. MURROUGHsaid, he begged to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he had made inquiries as to the case of Joshua Wolstencroft, recently convicted before magistrates at Oldham for shaving another man on a Sunday, and fined 5s. with costs? Also, whether the fine with costs, will be remitted?
§ SIR GEORGE GREYsaid, that Her Majesty's Government had no power whatever to remit fines of this nature. By the enactment, those fines were payable to the poor, subject to a deduction of one-fourth to the informer. He would further state, that no remonstrance had been made by the person convicted. As to the other part of the question, the Government had no power to interfere. He had made, therefore, no special inquiry; but he had received a letter from a person engaged in some trade at Oldham, saying that it was the general practice of the barbers there not to shave on Sundays, and that the prosecution had been undertaken at their instance.