§ 62. Mr. TURTONasked the Home-Secretary whether he is prepared to introduce legislation providing that, for the trial of all causes entered in the common jury lists, the number of jurymen be reduced, except where a judge in Chambers otherwise orders, from twelve to seven and that the coroner's jury be reduced from twelve to five, with the proviso that in all inquests upon females the coroner's officer shall summon women householders to serve on the jury; and whether he is willing to provide, in view of the necessity for greater food production, that farmers and others engaged on agricultural work be totally exempted from all jury service?
§ Sir G. CAVEI cannot at the present moment undertake to propose legislation providing for a reduction in the number of jurymen at ordinary trials, but I am considering the question so far as it affects coroners' inquests. To exempt farmers and other persons engaged in agriculture-from all jury service would, I think, throw an undue burden on other classes of the community.