§ MR. BRADLAUGHI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to an adjudication at Wakefield on March 8th, by the West Biding Magistrates, acting under "The Employers' and Workmen's Act, 1875," against 65 women, girls, and lads charged with leaving their work unfinished, when the justices awarded damages, and also ordered the defendants to complete the work; whether it was competent for the justices under "The Employers' and Workmen's Act, 1875," section 3, sub-section 3, to both award damages and order the defendants to complete the work; and whether the powers of the justices are limited, so that the order for performance of the contract must be in place either of the whole of the damages, which would otherwise have been awarded, or some part of such damages?
§ MR. H. MATTHEWSI have asked the justices to report to me on this matter, but have not as yet received their reply. The remainder of the question is one of law, on which I have no authority to give an opinion; but I may suggest for the hon. Member's consideration whether, under the Statute the justices have not power to order the completion of the work, and also to award damages, provided that the damages so awarded are in respect of some injury beyond and beside the non-completion of the work.