§ MR. J. M. ROBERTSONI beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. Manger, Penge, who has been mulcted at the Bromley police count in £4 5s. of penalty and costs for non-vaccination of his child; and whether, in view of the intentions of the legislature, he will take measures to prevent in future such accumulations of costs.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI have no authority to interfere with the discretion of magistrates in the matter of costs, but I have made inquiry in the case and find that the large amount of costs to which the defendant became liable was due to the fact that at Bromley defendants in vaccination cases are usually 1509 represented by counsel, the vaccination officer has therefore to be legally represented, and the justices consider that the cost involved should fall on the defendant rather than on the ratepayers.
§ MR. LUPTON (Lincolnshire, Sleaford)Is the right hon. Gentleman of opinion that vaccination is still compulsory?
§ [No Answer was returned.]