§ MR. HOPWOOD, in moving for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the Law relating to Summary Procedure before Justices; to extend the right of Appeal in certain cases; and for other purposes, said, the Bill proposed to deal with a great number of unnecessary committals to prison which were forced on magistrates by the present law. About one-third of the 90,000 persons now imprisoned were committed, not because they had committed crime, but because they were unable to pay fines. If the magistrates could grant them indulgence and allow them to pay fines by instalments, that would in many cases prevent the inflicting imprisonment. The Bill would also provide that in all cases of committal to gaol there should be an appeal to a superior Court, and abolish the right of the magistrate to commit for longer periods than six months on a cumulative series of convictions. It would also afford some relief to persons who were kept in prison for want of bail and sureties.
MR. ASSHETON CROSSsaid, that he would not oppose the introduction of the Bill, but he had stated last year that it was the intention of the Government to introduce a Bill dealing with this subject. The question was also mentioned in the Queen's Speech, but to that circumstance the hon. and learned Member had not adverted. He (Mr. Cross) 152 hoped that at any rate the hon. and learned Member would not proceed with the second reading of the Bill until after the introduction of the Government measure.
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Motion agreed to.
Bill to amend the Law relating to Summary Procedure before Justices; to extend the right of Appeal in certain cases; and for other purposes, ordered to be brought in by Mr. HOPWOOD, Mr. MUNDELLA, and Mr. BURT.
Bill presented, and read the first time. [Bill 9.]