§ Mr. Pageasked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal in Regina versus Sharp and Regina versus Johnson, he will introduce legislation to enable the courts to deal effectively with those convicted of making an affray, instead of having to reply upon a Statute of Edward III enabling the courts to do no more than bind over the offenders as blemishers of the peace.
98W
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI have been asked to reply. In this case an appeal against conviction of making an affray succeeded on the ground of misdirection of the jury and the conviction was quashed. The members of the Court of Criminal Appeal then exercised their powers as justices of the peace to bind the appellants over to keep the peace. The case affords no ground for thinking that the powers of courts to deal with persons convicted of making an affray are inadequate.