§ MR. S. HOARE (Norwich)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the great success attending the working of the First Offenders Act in New Zealand, and to the fact that it saved the Colony in prison expenses last year no less a sum than £3,226 5s. 9d., and to the large number of first offenders brought back to honest livelihood under its operation without being subjected to the contamination of prison influence; and, if he can give any particulars as to the operation in the United Kingdom of "The Probation of First Offenders Act, 1887."
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; I have seen the Report of the Inspector of Prisons in New Zealand showing that this Act has been successfully carried out there. I have no official information as to its operation in this country; but I will take steps to ascertain, as far as possible, to what extent the Act has been put in force, and with what result.