IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1774, 27 October 1879, Page 2

IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

The “New Zealand Times” supplies the following report of the debate on the second reading of Hutchison’s Bill on the abeve subject:—Mr Hutchison moved the second reading of the Imprisonment for Debt Abolition Bill, and in doing so pointed out that under the present law the poor debtor could be imprisoned, while the comparatively rich one got “ whitewashed,” and so escaped soot free. The law as it stood was an unjust one. As a matter of fact, people wore imprisoned more now than they were before the present Act was passed. It was s. fiction to say that men wore not now imprisoned for debt; they were ordered to pay certain amounts by the Court, and if they did not do so they were sent to prison for what was called contempt of court. What he wished was to abolish imprisonment for debt altogether from the Ist of January, 1880. Small debts should be considered to be debts of honor, and should not be, as they were now, a public matter, that might lead to the debtor’s imprisonment. The Hon. J, Hall was willing to vote for the second reading of the Bill, though he thought it would have been better if the whole question had been contained in one Act. Mr Hutchison explained that this was so. The Hon. John Hall withdrew his observations in [that case, but hoped the Bill would bo improved in

committee, and that some things not provided for in it would bo introduced. Mr Stewart said he agreed with the spirit of the Bill, although it did not provide for certain cases. Mx Reader Wood looked upon the credit system as a perfect private matter of trade and bargain, and believed that the sooner imprisonment for debt was abolished the better. Mr Barron thought the Bill might have gone even further than it did, and that legislation should in no way have anything to do with debtor and creditor. Mr Murray would support the Bill, which, he looked upon as an exceedingly liberal measure. Mr Hulop hoped the promoter of the Bui would be satisfied with the first three clauses, which would amply serve all the purposes desired by him. Mr Hutchison briefly replied, and said he should be exceedingly glad to accept the suggestions of his hon. friends. The Bill was then read a second time.