PRISON FOR DEBT.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 256, 29 October 1929, Page 9

PRISON FOR DEBT.

ADDRESS BY MR. C. J. TUNKS

An address on "Imprisonment foxDebt" was given by Mr. C. «T. Tunks at a meeting of the Auckland Creditmeri's Association to-da}\

Mr. Tunks said that the problem of the insolvent debtor had been a difficulty in all ages. In the earliest stages of barter there Avas not much difficulty, but as business developed and money was a medium of exchange the necessity for credit arose. There was an ancient method of a debtor giving personal service. In England imprisonment for debt followed where the debtor had. no goods that could be seized. 1 At that time the Fleet Prison was the usual place for debtors. The law had been revised from time to time, and eventually the Fleet Prison was abolished. In 1869 a Debtors Act was passed. In New Zealand a similar Act was passed in 1874, and it was eventually incorporated as the Debt Limitation Act, 1908. The present position was that in regard to debt generally an order for committal or judgment summons could only be made under .certain eircugistansa*.