§ MR. ROEBUCKsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, in his opinion, it is lawful for Magistrates in Petty Sessions to sit with closed doors, and, during the exclusion of the public, to convict persons charged with the offence of using unjust Weights and Measures; and, whether he is aware of the fact that certain of the Metropolitan Magistrates have in such manner convicted persons so accused?
§ MR. WALPOLE, in reply, said, it certainly was not lawful for magistrates in petty sessions to sit with closed doors. It was an open court. With respect to the other question, whether he was aware of the fact that certain of the metropolitan magistrates had in such manner convicted persons so accused, he had made inquiries, and thought his hon. and learned Friend must have made some mistake; for out of the thirteen metropolitan courts, only two—Marylebone and Wandsworth—had any questions of weights and measures brought before them. In all these cases business had been conducted with open doors.
§ MR. ROEBUCKsaid, he had been in error. He should have stated the Surrey magistrates instead of the metropolitan magistrates.
§ MR. WALPOLEsaid, he would make inquiry into any particular cases which might be brought under his notice.
§ LORD EUSTACE CECILsaid, that the Secretary of State for the Home Department had promised to introduce a measure on this subject, and he should like to know when that promise would be fulfilled?
§ MR. WALPOLEsaid, he hoped to be able to introduce his promised Bill on the subject of Weights and Measures soon after Easter.