[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] SIR,—It is regrettable that
in the review of Mr. Culvert's book, The Lawbreaker, in your issue of March 10th, no mention is made of that part of it dealing with voluntary work in prisons. This important service has not only helped to bring about the remarkable change in prison administration to which your reviewer referred : It has also been the means of forming a sound public opinion on penal questions, the desirability of which the review emphasizes. Mr. Calvert is able to speak with authority not because he is what your reviewer calls, somewhat disparagingly, a professional reformer, but because of his long experience as a voluntary prison visitor. Men of such intimate knowledge of law- -breakers as his are not apt to make the disturbing misstate- ment which Mr. Ensor makes in his last sentence. He seems to have written—let us hope it is a misprint—" a good many of the debtors concerned (who are all such as can pay and will not)." Mr. Calvert makes no such statement, of course. His is the solid practical book which those seriously engaged in dealing with delinquents have been hoping for.—! am, Sir,
MARGARETIVILSON.
13 Woburn Square, W.C. 1.
[Mr. Ensor writes :—Nobody can be imprisoned save for a debt due under some order or judgement of a court, and then only if it is proved that he "either has or has had since the date of the order or judgement the means to pay the sum in respect of which he has made default, and has refused or neglected, or refuses or neglects, to pay the same" (section 5 of the Debtors' Act). My condensed reference to this would have been better worded, "can or could pay and will or would not " ; but in implying that power to pay and wilful omission to use that power were conditions precedent to imprisonment it was perfectly correct. A large proportion of the persons are men who owe money to women under bastardy orders or separation orders, and who have withheld it through spite. Your correspondent is welcome to her sympathy for them ; but I am afraid mine goes to the women.]
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