§ MR. CHANNING (Northampton, E.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Charles Chattell, of Leighton, St. Neot's, Huntingdonshire, upon whom the Huntingdon Bench of Magistrates made an order to have his child vaccinated within seven days, or in default to pay 7s. costs; whether he is aware that the child was vaccinated within the seven days, but that the certificate was not received by Mr. Chattell in time for him to send it in within the seven days; whether in spite of the order having been carried out within the specified period, the magistrates imposed the costs upon Mr. Chattell; and, whether, having regard to the fact that the essential part of the order was properly carried out, he will direct the remission of the fine and costs imposed on Mr. Chattell?
§ THE SECRETARY of STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; my attention has been called to this case, and I have obtained a Report from the Justices upon it. The defendant was liable to a fine for not having transmitted the certificate of vaccination to the vaccination officer. He assigned, as his reason for not doing so, that he did not know the vaccination officer's address, and did not allege that he had not received the certificate in time. The magistrates, however, were satisfied that he had such knowledge, and that his object was to give as much trouble as possible to the officer. They, therefore, thought it right to make him pay the 1095 costs incurred. I should not feel justified in interfering with the decision of the magistrates in this case.