§ Baron de FORESTasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a usual form of the hire-purchase system permits the vendor, on the 956 failure of the purchaser to pay any one instalment on the exact specified day, to seize the goods and to retain the whole of the instalments previously paid; and whether, seeing that cases of hardship in this connection, especially to the working classes, are frequently brought to the notice of county-court judges and police-court magistrates, he will consider the desirability of introducing legislation to remove this abuse of this system?
§ Mr. McKENNAI cannot add anything to the answer I gave to the previous question on the 5th instant. I am aware that the provision mentioned sometimes forms part of the contract, and that it sometimes gives rise to hardship; but fear I cannot undertake to propose legislation to regulate the terms of voluntary agreements for the hire of furniture and goods.
§ Mr. O'GRADYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware of the fact that the whole of the legitimate cabinet industry is dead-set against this system of hire purchase?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, Sir, I was not aware of it.
§ Mr. CHIOZZA MONEYMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he is aware that the county courts are being turned largely into debt-collecting agencies on behalf of these firms, and that, in the opinion of more than one county-court judge, the proceedings amount to a scandal1?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir, I have seen various complaints made on the subject; but legislation on the matter is not easy to devise.
§ Mr. O'GRADYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the hire-purchase system in furniture gives rise to greater depths of sweating than any other system known?