The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-04-04 00:00:00

THE PUNISHMENT OP TRANSPORTATION

Mr. SCOTT moved for a select committee to consider how
far and in what direction recent legislation and the sub-
stitution of other punishment for transportation has
influenced the existing amount of crime. After condemn-
ing the practice of associating young criminals with those
confirmed in crime in prisons, and of hurting the feelings
of ticket-of-leave men by leaving them open to constant
interference, the hon. member proceeded to state that
crime had doubled since 1848, and that the number of
criminals was increasing even in a greater degree than
the population of the country. This was a state of things
that required immediate remedy, and he, therefore, urged
the Government to allow the appointment of a select
committee to consider the subject, and to suggest a
remedy. High authorities had declared their opinion,
that the opportune moment for abandonment of transporta-
tion had led to an increase of crime, and now that peace
was restored, from which a further increase of crime
might be expected, he thought the time had arrived when
the subject should be considered.

Mr. LLOYD DAVIES seconded the motion, and referred
to the failure of the " ticket of leave " system, and re-
marked that out of 5,552 tickets granted, in 1,180 cases
the holders had relapsed into crime, and persons were in
apprehension of danger by them.
Sir G. GREY thought that the question might be settled
without a division, if the hon. member would agree to the
limitation of the scope of inquiry, but if the committee
was to investigate till wide question of" tickets of leave,"
its labours would occupy the whole of the session, with-
out any practical results being arrived at. The right
hon. baronet admitted that there was an increase in
the number of criminals ; from the year 1851, the number
had increased from 27,760 to 27,960. But in that
time the population had increased 2,000,000,
so that it was an exaggeration to say that
crime was really greatly increased; on the contrary,
compared with the population, there was a considerable
decrease shown. With regard to the ticket of leave system,
it was true that the police had in certain cases acted to
prevent men who were at liberty under the system, from
getting employment by exposing their former course of life,
but the metropolitan police had received instructions not to
take such a course. They were, however, very careful in
watching the motions of ticket of leave men when they got
into the company of dishonest persons, and in several such
cases their ticket was in danger of being removed. As to
the question of the advantages of transportation, he admitted
that it was a great benefit co this country to get rid of the
worst of the criminal population, those leaving the country
seldom returning at the expiration of their sentences ;
but, at the same time, the representations of the colo-
nies were to be considered, and they were such
that it was expedient to sacrifice the advantage which the
mother country gained by the system of transportation.
The right hon. gentleman concluded by moving, as an
amendment, " That a select committee be appointed to
inquire into the act 16 and 17 Vic., c. 99, intituled ' An act
to substitute in certain cases other punishment in lieu of
transportation."
Sir J. PAKINGTON remarked that the House had reason
to feel grateful to the hon. member for Berwick for intro-
ducing this important question to their consideration, but at
the same time he agreed with the Home Secretary that the
terms of the motion gave too great a scope to the inquiry,
and he therefore gave the preference to the amendment of
the right hon. gentleman, to whom he accorded his thanks
for the manner in which he had met the motion. He
wished, however, that the question of the policy or impolicy
of the renewal of transportation should be taken into serious
consideration by the committee, as it will be remembered
the act of 1853 had been passed without due consideration,
and almost without discussion. At the time that act was
passed he believed that it was absolutely necessary to
act upon the representations of the colonists of Van Dieman's
Land, but it was still more important that the government
should at that time cease transporting to a colony tiler to
which gold mines were then springing up, and holding out
to colonists the prospects of securing a fortune. Arguing
upon the question of the potency of the punishment of
transportation, he said he could not agree that five years'
imprisonment in England was equivalent to seven years'
transportation, and observed that transportation was looked
upon by prisoners and by their families with much greater
horror than penal servitude in this country, This he con-
sidered a great anomaly in the present law, and the
anomaly increased with the extent of the punishment. He
was glad that the inquiry had been conceded, and he hoped
that it would be allowed to go into the question of the
success of the abolition of transportation.
Mr. LABOUCHERE observed that the committee, according
to the terms of the amendment moved by Sir G. Grey,
would have power to consider the question raised by Sir
John Pakiniton, but if it were thought the words did not
warrant so much, the Government would agree to add
other words, such as, "and effects, and operations, and
provision before operation." The great difficulty in
transporting criminals to Colonies was, in the first place, to
find Colonies willing to receive them ; and, secondly, they
had to find labour for them. Western Australia was the
only Colony willing to take convicts, but it could not be
available to any great extent for the purpose, as it could not
provide provision or employment for them.
Mr. ADDERLVY agreed as to the advisability of instituting
an enquiry into the Transportation Question, but expressed
a hope that the system of expatriation, which had been
abandoned, would not be re-established. He alluded to
the want of means in this country of preventing discharged
prisoners from relapsing into crime, and entered into the
causes of crime, remarking that education was a better
prevention of crime than punishment. He rvould suggest
that words should be added to the motion of Sir G. Grey
to the effect that the committee should take into considera-
tion the feasibility of making a provision for discharged
prisoners.

Mr. BARNES remarked that the words proposed by the
Government would be found sufficient for the purpose.
Mr. NEWDEGATE urged, in favonr of transportation, that
there was a better chance of reforming a criminal, when he
was removed from his old haunts and associations, than if
he remained in this country.
Sir S. NOUTHCOTE suggested various schemes for the
treatment of prisoners after discharge, and recommended
the subject to the consideration of the committee.
Mr. F. FITZGERALD advocated the renewal of the
transportation system.
After a few words from Mr. SCOTT,
Sir G. GREY withdrew his amendment ; and after some
slight modifications its the original motion having been
conceded, the motion was agreed to.

SPECIAL AND CONTRACT DEBTS.
Mr. DlALirts moved for leave to introduce a bill to abolish