§ 62. Mr. BRIANTasked the Home Secretary if his attention has been called to the sentence of seven days' imprisonment imposed at the Hants Assizes in February on a man of 44 found guilty of an offence against a girl of 14, who, as a result, is shortly to become a mother; and if he has made any inquiry into this case?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANMy attention has been called to the case, but I have no authority to take action in regard to it.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the frequency of the very inadequate sentences in similar offences, and will he circularise the magistrates in regard to the necessity of dealing with these cases adequately?
§ Mr. BRIANTHas the right hon. Gentleman compared these sentences with those passed for the theft of sometimes a few shillings?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI am not prepared to circularise the magistrates about cases of which they must of necessity know more than ourselves.
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKMay not the Home Secretary in this and similar cases very well take upon himself to circularise the magistrates as did his predecessor?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIf there was any reason to suppose that the general practice was unsatisfactory then it would, or might, be a different matter. But on a particular case or one or two cases it is not, I think, desirable to circularise the magistrates.
§ Mr. J. HOPE SIMPSONWas this sentence imposed by a magistrate or by a judge?
§ Colonel Sir A. HOLBROOKWas not this case heard at Assizes, where a magistrate would not preside?
§ Major PAGETIs it not the fact—
§ Mr. SPEAKERI think the mention of "Assizes" implies that it was the sentence of a judge.