§ Colonel DAYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1) if his attention has been drawn to the case of Richard and Alice Maud Dixon, brought from Adelaide, Australia, on a charge of unlawful conversion; and whether, in view of the fact that the Old Bailey jury stopped the case, following the defending counsel's statement, he will state whether 1022W any and, if so, what compensation is to be afforded Mr. and Miss Dixon for the financial losses incurred by their deportation from Australia;
(2) what costs were incurred by the authorities in bringing front Australia Richard and Alice Maud Dixon, who were discharged at the Old Bailey on the 23rd November, 1926, together with the total costs to be met from public funds in respect of the prosecution?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI have been asked to reply to these questions. This was a private prosecution, and the expenses in connection with the return from Australia and the prosecution will be defrayed by the private prosecutor except in so far as may be otherwise ordered by the Court. The Court has ordered £35 6s. 2d. in respect of allowances to witnesses to be borne in the usual manner by local funds. No compensation is payable from public or local funds to the defendants, and their remedy (if any) is by action in the Courts against the private person or persons who instituted the proceedings.