THE LATELY-REJECTED IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT BILL.

Evening Star, Issue 3322, 13 October 1873, Page 2

THE LATELY-REJECTED IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT BILL.

To the Editor. Sir,—Whatever might have been its effect to such as have the weal but not the will to pay, if the Bill had become one of our multitudinous laws, the oppressiveness of 'the law as at present in operation,-where a person is imprisoned and has not the means of payment, ought certainly to have been abolished; we need not look far for an example. A man of the name of L. T. Stead has been incarceiated in Dunedin Gaol for the last six months, for not having paid certain law costs, which, it is said, there is even good reason for his not paying, and also that he has something to say as to the justice and legality of his long confinement ; but the poor fellow has not any means, even were he ever so wishful to pay: not even a farthing to bless himself by getting himself discharged, either by Habeas Corpus or as an insolvent debtor. In such a case imprisonment is well enough in a country of barbarians, but in a civilised community it ought certainly to have been abolished. In Stead’s case he will have to remain where he is until he is brought out feet foremost. Then why was the Bill rejected by the House of Representatives Tnis is an extremely hard case. —I am, Ac., John Stamper. Danediu, October 11.