§ SIR G. OSBORNE MORGAN (Denbighshire, E.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the ease of John Henry Swift, a collier, residing at Coedpoeth, near Wrexham, who was ordered to pay 2s. 6d. a week 1022 towards the maintenance of his son in the Chester Industrial School, and having fallen into arrear with such payments to the amount of about £6 was committed by the local Bench of Magistrates to Shrewsbury Prison for two months: whether be is aware that Swift's default in making these payments was caused by his inability to find work in consequence of the strike in the coal trade, and the consequent stoppage of work in the Coedpoeth and neighbouring districts; and that, though a very steady man and anxious to find work, he only earned £2:5s. (id. during the whole of 1893; and whether, under the peculiar circumstances of the case, be can see his way to exercise the discretionary power given to him by the 39th and 40th sections of "The Industrial Schools Act, 18b'6,"of remitting the payment of the above arrears and discharging the man from prison?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. AsQUITH,) Fife, E.My attention has been called to this case, and after careful inquiry I learn that the record of the defendant is not a good one, and I have come to the conclusion that I cannot interfere with his term of imprisonment, but I have given instructions that his weekly payment shall be reduced to 1s. 6d.