§ 5. Mr. EDWARD WILLIAMSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is prepared to institute an inquiry into the case of James Merriman, who was arrested on 4th April, 1934, for a fine of 15s. which was imposed upon him for being involved in 1913 in a street scuffle, who served in France during the War and was wounded twice, for which he received a disability pension of 16s. weekly, has been unemployed for seven years and has a wife and eight children, and was taken from his bed and detained at the local police station all night and taken to Cardiff prison next day without having appeared before the magistrates?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Gilmour)I have already made inquiries and I regret that the action taken in this case was not in accordance with the advice which has from time to time been 1104 given by the Home Office that the police should consult the justices concerned before executing upon a discharged member of His Majesty's Forces a warrant of commitment to prison in default of payment of a fine imposed before he joined the colours. In the present case this recommendation was unfortunately overlooked by the police; but I am glad to say that Mr. Merriman was released on the day after his reception into prison, the Governor having brought the ease to the notice of the British Legion, who paid the fine out of the funds at their disposal.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman take some action to censure the officer or the person responsible for the vindictive treatment meted out to this man?
§ Sir J. GILMOURNo, Sir, I do not think that such action is called for. The fact is that the police exercised considerable restraint in bringing to the notice of this man on several occasions the necessity of meeting this fine.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the Home Secretary aware that ex-Inspector Lister in that division, with whom this man was serving in the Army and who died quite recently, explained to the person involved that this fine had been wiped off the books and that it would be unnecessary for him to pay; and will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries into that matter?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am willing to make inquiries, but the information which I have is clearly that the man was made well aware of the fact that he was liable to the fine. I have no knowledge of what the hon. Gentleman now states.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSWill the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries into it, in order to see whether some compensation ought not to be paid for the iniquitous treatment of this man?