§ MR. KINGasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether, in view of the fact that Section 179 of "The Tariff and Customs Act, 1876," by providing that—
Every person who shall he found to have been on board any ship or boat liable to forfeiture shall forfeit a sum not exceeding one hundred pounds, and may be taken before a justice to be dealt with,by its terms exposes innocent persons to conviction, the Government will consent, at an early day, to repeal or revise that section?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER, in reply, said, his attention had been called to that matter by the Question, and he certainly was of opinion that the law as it stood at present could not be defended. He would communi- 311 cate with the Commissioners of Customs on the subject, to see what amendment should be made in the law.