PAYMENT OF FINES

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 October 1936, Page 7

PAYMENT OF FINES

NEW BILL’S PROPOSALS TO LESSEN IMPRISONMENT [special to “star. ’] WELLINGTON, October 6. Legislation is in course of preparation, with a view to making better provision for the payment of fines and diminishing the number of cases where persons are sent to gaol when it was not in the first instance intended by the Court to Infhc sentences of imprisonment, according a statement made, to-day, by the Minister of Justice (Mr Mason). The Minister said that he regarded the matter as being of great importance, and every effort would be made .to have the Bi]l passed this session, although it was impossible for him to be definite on that point. The Bill, he said, would he on similar lines to the Money Payments (Justices Procedure) Act, passed by the Imperial Parliament last yeai. The effect of it would be that no person would be automatically committed to prison for non-payment of a fine, but committal would only .tdke place after every effort had- been made to secure payment of the fine and eveiy consideration given to the offender's capacity to pay. As a result of the legislation passed in England, it is claimed that the amount of imprisonment can be substantially reduced. The general principle underlying the Act is that the grave step of sending a defaulter to prison should only be taken as the result of a considered decision of the Justices, and that with certain exceptions this decision shall only be taken after an enquiry as to the means of the defaulter. Imprisonment as an “automatic” sequel to default will largely disappear.