FEWER GAOL TERMS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19139, 7 October 1936, Page 15

FEWER GAOL TERMS

DEFAULT WITH FINES

LEGISLATION INTENDED

ENGLISH ACT AS MODEL

(Parliamentary Reporter.)

WELLINGTON, this day

Legislation is iti the course of preparation with a view to making' better provision for the. payment of lines and diminishing the number of cases whero persons aro sent to gaol, when it was not in tho first instance intended by the court to inflict sentences of imprisonment.

. In a statement made to-day the AJinister of Justice, the Hon. 11, G. R. Alason, said ho regarded the matter as being of great importance, and every effort would be made to Drive a bill passed this session. Although it was impossible for him to be definite on that point, the bill, lie said, would bo on similar lilies to the Money Payments (Justices Procedure) Act passed by- the Imperial Parliament last year.' The effect of if would be that no person would be automatically committed to prison for the non-payment of a fine, but committal would only take place after every- effort had been made to secure payment of the fine, and every consideration given to the offender's capacity to pay. As a result of the legislation passed in England, it is claimed that tho amount of imprisonment can be substantially reduced. Tho general principle underlying the Act is that the grave step of -sending a defaulter to prison should only bo taken as a result of a considered decision of the justices, and that, with certain exceptions, this decision shall only be taken after an inquiry as to tho means of the defaulter. Imprisonment as an “automatic” sequel to default will largely disappear.