§ MR. MCCARTANI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department—(1) whether his attention has been called to the published summary of the annual report of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, wherein it is stated that, on the year's revenue, as compared with expenditure, there is a deficit of £3,500; and, (2) whether he is aware that a large proportion of the deficit arises through the Society bearing the expenses of prosecutions of cases transferred to them by the Metropolitan Police and County Constabulary, which, under ordinary circumstances, would be paid for out of public funds; and, if so. whether he is prepared to take such steps as will relieve the Society from such expenses now and in the future?
§ SIR MATTHEW WHITE RIDLEYI see from the Society's report that the ordinary income for the year was less by nearly £6,000 than the income of the previous year, but I am informed by the director, and the report also shows, that the decrease is almost entirely due to the fact that a reserve fund was raised by the Society during the year. I am not sure that I understand what is the meaning of the hon. Member in the second paragraph of his Question, but the cost of prosecutions, so far as they are provided for by law, fall upon the same fund, whether the prosecutions are instituted by the police or by any other persons. I may add that the Society informs me that they do not desire any such relief as that suggested, and that few things have been so valuable to their work as the cordial union which exists throughout the country between them and the police.