THE ENGINEER AS WITNESS 49 



The costs of a witness in a county court may be allowed, 

 although he has not been actually called (County Court Rules, 

 Or. LIII. r. 41). He may be allowed all travelling expenses 

 actually incurred and reasonably paid by him. 



23. Criminal Courts. Certain regulations made by the 

 Home Secretary, dated Nov. 12, 1903, govern the allowances 

 payable to prosecutors and witnesses in criminal prosecutions 

 (Weekly Notes, 1904, p. 1). 



According to 2 of these regulations " there may be 

 allowed to expert witnesses such allowances for attending 

 to give expert evidence as the Court may consider reasonable, 

 including where necessary, an allowance for qualifying to give 

 evidence." 



There may be allowed to witnesses attending Court to give 

 evidence from a distance of more than two miles their railway 

 fares actually paid, or (where a railway is not available) reason- 

 able expenses of conveyance actually incurred. Provided 



(1) That the railway-fare, except for special reasons allowed 

 by the Court, shall be third-class fare ; and that if return 

 tickets are available, only return rates shall be allowed. In 

 the case of police witnesses, the reduced rates under the 

 Cheap Trains Act, 1883, shall not be exceeded, except for 

 special reasons allowed by the Court. 



(2) That the expenses of conveyance, otherwise than by 

 railway, shall not in any case (except where a special con- 

 veyance is required for a witness suffering from serious illness) 

 exceed Is. a mile one way. Such expenses shall be allowed 

 separately as mileage. 



24. Parliamentary Committees. Engineers are frequently 

 summoned before committees of one or other of the Houses of 

 Parliament. If so summoned at the instance of a party to a 

 private bill i.e., a promoter or an opponent, the expenses of 

 the witness are defrayed by the party employing him ; but 

 when summoned for any public inquiry, as for instance before 

 a select committee, his expenses are paid by the Paymaster- 

 General, under orders signed by the Clerk of the Parliaments, 

 the Clerk of the House of Commons, or by the Chairman of 

 Committees in either House. An engineer summoned before 

 a parliamentary committee should report himself to the com- 

 mittee clerk on his arrival in London, or he will not be allowed 



L.A.E. E 



