§ 59. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Home Secretary if he will consider the advisability of taking the necessary steps to place the Metropolitan County Courts in the same status as the provincial county courts in regard to jurisdiction, and amend Section 84 of the County Courts Act of 1888 accordingly?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERAL (Sir Thomas Inskip)I have been asked to reply. The rule in the Metropolitan County Courts is that proceedings may be taken in the Court of the district in which the plaintiff or defendant dwells or carries on business, as opposed to the rule in provincial County Courts where proceedings have to be taken within the district in which the defendant dwells or carries on business. In the latter case, however, proceedings may be commenced with the leave of the Court in the district where the cause of action arose, and any alteration on the lines suggested would inevitably result
§ in a number of successful applications of this nature, involving more trouble and expense to the administration of the Courts and to the suitors themselves than under the present system. I would remind the hon. Member that the area comprising Metropolitan County Court districts is not so large as many a provincial County Court district and has better travelling facilities.
§ Mr. CROOKEIs my hon. and learned Friend aware of the prevailing hardship on those unable to defend summonses in London on account of the heavy travelling expenses involved?
§ The ATTORNEY-GENERALI have no doubt that there are hardships in individual cases as there are under all systems.