§ SIR EDWARD WATKIN (for Mr. WATKIN)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is prepared to introduce a Bill in the next Session of Parliament to provide for the closing of public houses during the hours of polling at Parliamentary Elections?
MR. ASSHETON CROSSNo, Sir, I am not prepared to introduce a Bill for the closing of public-houses during 535 polling hours at Parliamentary elections. By the 23rd section of the Licensing Act the justices of a locality in which, in any case, tumult is expected, have power to close public-houses during any time they may think fit—not with reference to polling especially, but in all cases in which tumult is likely to arise. This subject was much considered by the Select Committee which sat in 1870, and they reported to the House that although the witnesses examined naturally looked upon the question entirely from the point of view of order and tranquillity, the Committee felt that the inconvenience to the public generally of such a measure would be so great as to outweigh its advantages.