§ MR. BEACHsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, Why the expenses of witnesses that attended in Court for the defence at the Hampshire Quarter Sessions, which were authorized to be repaid to the County Treasurer by "The Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1867," have been disallowed by the Treasury?
§ MR. SCLATER-BOOTHsaid, as this was a subject which would probably be interesting to other counties besides Hampshire, he would stale that, although the Criminal Law Amendment Act of last year had for the first time authorized the expenses of witnesses for the defence being defrayed by the Treasury, objection was taken in the House to the probable cost of such payments; and his right hon. Friend who had charge of the Bill undertook that no money should be paid on that account until a Vote for the purpose was passed by the House of Commons. A Vote for that purpose was accordingly inserted in the Estimates for the year, and the House did not pass that Vote until the first week in June. The account sent in by the Treasurer of Hampshire was presented before that time, and in accordance with what had occurred with regard to other counties, the charge made for witnesses for the defence was ordered to stand over, and might therefore technically be said to have been disallowed. There never was, however, any intention to disallow the charge further than until the House of Commons should pass a Vote approving the policy of the legislation of last year.