§ Mr. WATTasked the Home Secretary whether, in view of the fact that about 25,000 persons are each year imprisoned throughout the Kingdom in default of pay- 1156 ment of the fines imposed on them, he will consider the advisability of allowing these prisoners the opportunity of paying the fines by instalments?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEThe existing law makes ample provision for allowing defendants time to pay their fines, and to pay them by instalments. I am not sure that courts of summary jurisdiction are always as ready as they might be to take advantage of these provisions, and I have repeatedly urged on magistrates the desirability of doing so, both in particular cases where their powers in this matter appear to have been overlooked and by drawing attention to a circular on this subject issued by my predecessor at the Home Office to all courts of summary jurisdiction in June, 1905. The matter is one of great importance, as the committal of defendants to prison in default of the payment of fines which if time were allowed they might have paid, may involve great hardship on the persons so committed, and, if they are first offenders, may seriously detract from the deterrent effect which imprisonment ought to have.