Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Attorney-General whether his attention has been drawn to the remarks of Mr. Justice Darling on the secret trial of certain cases; and whether it is proposed in future to permit representatives of the Press or public to be present at the hearings of such trials for criminal offences?
§ Sir G. HEWARTYes, I have read the remarks of the learned Judge. The matter is under consideration, and for the moment I will only add, first, that the present practice is required by Statute, and, secondly, that the two principal reasons for the statutory provision were the belief that publicity would involve the ruin of the persons sinned against, who are often of tender years, and the apprehension lest publicity might even make the crime more common.