IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 32, 19 June 1868, Page 3

IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT.

TO TIIK KDITOR 01* Till' STAR. Sin, —l poroolve by your morning contemporary tho Lyttelton Times oi! this day that a mooting was hold at Willies Ilotol yestorday afternoon, for tho purpose, mainly, of discuss* tha Resident Magistrates Court A or, and moro especially tho olauso prohibiting imprliionmonb for debt for sums under j. 10, " Tho meeting " roports your contemporary, "highly ooiulomncd itH effect, as bolng highly projudicial to tho wolfaro of tho trading community, and calculated to encourngo and Increase potty fraud, Aftor somo discussion a resolution was adopted to this cflleot, and a committee, consisting of Messrs Shopnnrd. 10. 11. lllshop, and A. Duncan, was appolntoo to draw up a potitlon to tho General Assembly, praying for lto ropoal or amendment," Ab I endorse, to tho fullost extent, ovory syllable of your artlclo on this subject somo evenings ago, It Is unnecessary that I should rc-capltulato tho arguments in favour of doing away with imprisonment for debt altogothor, During last session tho Houso of Kcproscntalives passed a motwuro having this object, but tho " Lords " thought othorwlflo-~(f<>r what reason has nevor boon oxplainod)—and tho 1)111 did not consequently becomo law, I trust that a similar measure will ho Introduced In tho coming session, aud that so far from repealing or,ln any way amonding iho olauso In tho Kosldont Magistrates Court Act, imprlßonmonC for debt will bo Immediately abolished, In that case, tradesmen .will havo to exerclso a discretion as to whom thoy trust, Instead of, as at tho present timo, giving unlimited tick, and thon pouncing on thoir victims so soon ns it ploasos thorn to do 00, Your obedient servant, NO IMPRISONMENT. Christchurch, 10th Juno, 1808,