§ DR. CAMERON (Glasgow, College)asked the Secretary to the Board of Trade, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that on Saturday last an examination in Bankruptcy in proceedings against Mr. E. M. Langworthy was conducted in private, and the Press prevented from reporting what took place; if he will state under what provision of the Bankruptcy Acts the proceedings were kept secret; and, whether he will consider the advisability, if necessary, of amending the Law so as to secure publicity in cases where, as in the one referred to, the question at issue is an alleged fictitious transfer of property by a debtor with a view to defraud his creditors?
§ THE SECRETARY (Baron HENRY DE WORMS) (Liverpool, East Toxteth)An examination of certain persons is taking place in the bankruptcy proceedings against Mr. E. M. Langworthy at the instance of the Chief Official Receiver. The proceedings are carried on under Section 27 of the Bankruptcy Act for the purposes of discovery, and the mode in which they are conducted is a matter within the province of the Bankruptcy Court itself. Such an examination is, however, as a matter of fact, conducted in private, in accordance with the practice of the Court, and the ends of justice might be entirely defeated if that were otherwise. But the ulterior proceedings to which the result of the examination may give rise will have the usual publicity.