§ MR. LABOUCHERE (Northampton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the fact that a peaceable meeting was being held in Kennington last Sunday, when Inspector Chamberlain called upon those taking part in it to break up, because a mob calling themselves the Primrose Society were advancing with hostile intent, and, upon his orders not being complied with, directed the police to break up the meeting; and, whether peaceable meetings, which do not interfere with traffic, are not to be permitted in the streets, if the Primrose Society or any other Association contemplate breaking them up?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. STUART-WORTLEY (Sheffield, Hallam)(who replied) said: The Commissioner of Police informs mo that Inspector Chamberlain did not call upon the meeting held in Kennington last Sunday to break up, and that he did not direct the police to break it up. The mere contemplation of violence by Primrose Societies gives to the police no additional powers of interference with peaceable meetings.