HEAVY FINE TO BE REMITTED?
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AT the South-Western Police Court, London, on Monday, Mr. Claud Mullins, the magistrate, announced that he would ask the Home Secretary to remit a coach driver's fine.
A driver was before the court, under the recently passed Money Payment Act, to show why he had not paid a fine of £7 10s. imposed on him for speeding, by the Hurst Grove justices, Sussex, on October 4 last. A fortnight ago, said Mr. Mullins, the man appeared before him for the same reason, but, as he felt that the size of the penalty indicated some special circumstances, he adjourned the case and communicated with the justice's of the Burwash division of Sussex for details.
The reply had now been received that there were no special reasons for imposing such a severe penalty. . The defendant had now said that he was unemployed and receiving 28s. (Id. a week public assistance to keep his family. When he was working he earned 12s. 64. a day and he had only once before been convicted.
"That places me in a difficulty," said Mr. Mullins, " because, as the tine was imposed by another court, I have not the power to impose one day's imprisonment to wipe out the fine. . I shall communicate With the Home Secretary to see whether he is willing to remit the whole or part of the fine."