One Law for the Rich and Another for the Poor

Feilding Star, Volume XII, Issue 12, 12 July 1890, Page 4

One Law for the Rich and Another for the Poor

Did you notice, asks 'Loafer' in the Gore Standard, that Judge Deuniston was patted on the back the other day, because he refused to grant a discharge in bankruptcy to a working man, who owed about £50 ? The Bankruptcy Court, His Honor said, was not intended to assist men to wipe off their debts, while they retained their only asset — their labour. I noticed the incident, and I did not like the dictum. I believe in every man, rich or poor, paying his way honestly, but I do not see why the rich should have any advantage over the poor in this matter. Does not the rich man retain his labour (and, usually, a great many other things besides) when he gets, his discharge in Bankruptcy? It is the old story of one law for the rich, and another for the poor. I was glad to see that Judge Williams, a few days iafter, entered a practical protest against his learned brother's decision. A labouring man came before him for discharge in bankruptcy, and it! was granted. His Honor said that while the bankruptcy law stood as it did at present, he could not presume to make any distinction between the bankrupt who filed for thousands aud thebankrupt who filed for tens, ©f pounds. And a very impartialdecision, too — though, probably, nobody Will pat him on the. back for it.