IMPRISONMENT FOR DEBT
[To the Editor of THE SPECTATOR.] Sni,—As Sir Arnold Wilson pointed out in the House of Com- mons last Friday satisfaction with the Money Payments (Justices Procedure) Bill should not blind the eyes of lovers of justice to the enormous amount of ground still to be covered before the scandal of imprisonment for debt is disposed of. In particular I doubt if it will do much to reduce the 4,000 odd annual commitments for failure to comply with separation orders. True, imprisonment in future will not take place where payment is inipossible,.but nothing has been done to remedy the well-known injustice-of many original -orders, variation will remain as difficult as ever, and the inquiry as to. means may still take place miles from the man's residence. The fact that enforcing magistrates know little or nothing about the conditions under which an order was made often leads to in- justice. For instance, one man in a good job may be ordered to pay only 10s. a week either because his wife has means; or earning ability, or because her conduct has contributed to the separation. In another case' the same sum may represent as much as the magi can afford for the support of -a destitute and deserving woman. Yet if both men become unemployed the cases will receive the same treatment ; e.g., the Court will try to get 10s. a week out of both of the men, although in the first case the woman may be comparatively well off.—Yours faith- fully, ALEC CRAIG. 33 Ulysses Road, London, N.W. 8.
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