§ MR. ROBINSON (Gloucester)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether it is true that Charles Hayward, mechanic, of Ashford, Kent, has been summoned before the magistrates of that town fourteen times within twelve months, and fined seven times by them for neglect to vaccinate one and the same child; whether he will remit the seventh penalty of 20s. and 12s. costs imposed on the 13th of April; and, whether he will lay upon the Table of this House a letter, dated the 18th of March last, addressed to the Lord Chancellor by Mr. Baker, who was counsel in the case on the thirteenth summons, calling attention to the illegality of the proceedings?
THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. CHILDERS) (Edinburgh, S.)In reply to my hon. Friend, I have to say that this question has been for some time before the Local Government Board, which Department, and not the Home Office, it really concerns. As far as any remission of penalty is concerned, I see no reason to recommend the indulgence of the Crown in favour of any person who persistently refuses to comply with the law. I will ask the Lord Chancellor whether he has any objection to lay the letter referred to upon the Table; but I should greatly doubt 269 whether his doing so would be in accordance with custom.
§ MR. ROBINSONasked, did the right hon. Gentleman imply censure upon the Circular issued by the Local Government Board to the Guardians at Evesham?
MR. CHILDERSsaid, he implied no censure upon anybody or anything. The question was one for the Local Government Board.