§ MR. WATTI beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether complaints have reached him from working men of the powers granted under the Act empowering agents to summon witnesses in cases where remuneration for time, &c., can only be obtained if the pursuer is successful; and whether he will take1 into consideration the introduction of such an amendment to the existing Act as to render the attendance of witnesses compulsory only when in any case reasonable allowance is made for their time and outlays?
§ SIR C. J. PEARSONThe newspaper paragraph which the hon. Member sent to me is the only intimation I have had of the existence of any dissatisfaction in regard to the present practice of summoning witnesses. I do not see my way to recommend an alteration in the procedure. The question relates mainly, if not entirely, to persons suing in forma pauperis. In such cases it would amount to a denial of justice if the pursuer were obliged to 1331 pay his witnesses beforehand for their time and outlays.