§ MR. HOWORTH (Salford, S.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, in view of the disclosures in the recent trial of "Hunter v. Lever," the Government propose to increase the stringency of the law dealing with the bribery of Corporation officials by means of commissions on purchases made by them?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)The question of increasing the stringency of the law as to commissions received by agents was carefully considered by the Home Office Authorities in 1877, and a Bill was drafted for the purpose. However, in deference to the strongly expressed opinion of the then Lord Chancellor (Lord Cairns), that the civil remedies of the existing law were sufficiently strong, the Bill was not proceeded with. The subject is one well worthy of consideration, no doubt; but the Government do not at present intend to propose any alteration in the law.
§ MR. HOWORTHI should like to ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether the case of "Hunter v. Lever" is not of sufficient importance to be placed in the hands of the Public Prosecutor?
§ MR. MATTHEWSSo far as I am aware, there is no law at present under which Mr. Hunter could be prosecuted criminally. There are, however, plenty of civil remedies in the matter. The case has not been sufficiently brought to my attention for me to give a decided opinion upon it.
§ MR. HOWORTHIs the Home Secretary aware that this man is a magistrate, and does he not think that he ought to be removed from the Bench?
§ [No reply.]