§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHasked the Home Secretary whether his attention had been called to the loss of wages incurred by working men called upon to attend as jurymen; and whether he proposed to take any steps, by legislation or otherwise, to compensate them for their reduced earnings?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe subject to which the Noble Lord calls attention is one of undoubted importance, and it is certainly very anomalous that while well-to-do special jurors should receive a 816 guinea a day, common jurors should be unpaid. There is reason to believe that the class from which both special and common jurors are summoned is unduly restricted, and that the mass of the wage-earning population is in fact, excluded, the duties being mainly discharged by shopkeepers and publicans. I hope the day will come when the actual practice will be reconciled with the theory of our jury system, and I shall welcome the assistance of the Noble Lord when the opportunity offers to improve and widen the basis of jury service.
§ Viscount CASTLEREAGHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that wage-earners also are called upon to discharge these duties and can he not hold out some little hope that consideration will be given shortly to this matter?