§ 8. Lieut.-Colonel JAMESasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been drawn to an advertisement in the "New Leader" of 23rd May inviting subscriptions to Labour's Calcutta Derby subscription draw; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
Mr. HENDERSONThe advertisement appears to relate to the same draw as that to which the hon. and gallant Member drew my attention on the 22nd ultimo, and against the organisers of which the police are taking proceedings.
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESIs the right hon. Gentleman taking any action in the matter?
§ Mr. TURNERWill proceedings be taken against those people who received money from the draws, including Members of Parliament?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYCan the right hon. Gentleman say if he has taken any action in regard to this particular case?
Mr. HENDERSONI understood that I answered a question on this very draw some days ago, and intimated that the matter was in the hands of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESIs the right hon. Gentleman taking any action against the journal in question, and also against the "Daily Herald," for if he looks at yesterday's "Daily Herald," he will see a large number of advertisements of a similar character?
§ Mr. B. SMITHIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the police at Scotland Yard usually run sweepstakes, and can he say whether they have run one this year, and, if so, what action he is taking?
§ Viscount CURZON(by Private Notice) asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that among the classified advertisements in a daily publication of the 4th June the following draw results were advertised: Amalgamated Society of Brassworkers' Benevolent Fund, Barrow Labour Band Draw, Birkenhead Independent Labour Party, Chatham Branch, N.U.R., Croydon Coal Porters' Derby Sweep, East Fulham Labour Party, Hammersmith L.P. Derby Sweep, H.L.P.I. Holiday Draw Results, Holborn Labour Party Derby Draw, Hounslow Branch, N.U.R., Linford ex-Service Men's Free Derby Competition, Llandaff Ward Labour Party Ballot, Mill Hill Labour Group, National Union of Printing, Bookbinding. Machine-Ruling and Paper Workers' Result, North Southwark Labour Party, N.U.R. Orphan Fund, Essex O.F.C. Derby Sweep, N.W. Central Branch Benevolent Fund, A.S.F. and B. Derby Draw Result, Padiham S.D.F. Whitsuntide Draw, Pianoworkers' Social and Athletic Association Derby Draw Result, Pols, Result of Lowestoft Labour Club Development Fund Derby Prize Draw, S.L.P. Draw, Stapleford and Sandiacre I.L.P. Derby Sweepstake, St, Crispin Sweepstake Result, Tynemouth Labour Party Derby Draw Result, Wimbledon Labour Hall, Vehicle Builders' Shop Committee Prize Distribution, Wallington and District. Result of Motor-cycle Prize Draw, W.C.T. AA. Holiday Draw Result, and West End Drapery Employés' Benevolent Fund; and whether in each of these cases he has taken similar action to that taken in respect of the Otley Sweep; and whether 1428 he proposes to take any action in respect of the paper in which these advertisements appear?
§ Mr. AYLESMay I ask whether such a question, which could be put down at any time, is in order as a Private Notice Question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI accepted it under the circumstances of to-day, with considerable alteration of the form in which it first reached me.
§ Mr. LANSBURYBefore the right hon. Gentleman replies, may I ask whether be is aware that advertisements of a similar character have appeared in newspapers for the last 25 or 30 years?
§ Mr. CLIMIEHas the attention of the right hon. Gentleman been drawn to the fact that a Member of this House has won a very large sum of money?
Mr. HENDERSONI have seen the advertisements to which the noble Lord refers, but was not previously aware of the draws mentioned therein. I do not know whether the police have taken action in any of these cases, but will consider the suggestion in the last part of the question. With regard to the question of the hon. Member for Bow and Bromley (Mr. Lansbury), I am aware that these advertisements have been appearing for a considerable time in many papers, and it is very difficult to decide where to draw the line. In a previous answer I said that I was going to try to administer the law impartially, irrespective of the character of the political parties concerned.
§ Viscount CURZONCan we be assured that the right hon. Gentleman will take in respect. of these sweeps exactly the same action as that which he has taken already in connection with the Otley sweep?
Mr. HENDERSONYes, with regard to the sweeps, but:18 T have already said it is very difficult to decide where to draw the line as far as newspapers are concerned. There is not a single newspaper in the country that does not to-day report the result of one of these draws in which a Member of this House is concerned. Am I to be asked to proceed against the whole of these newspapers for announcing that result?
§ Mr. LANSBURYIn order that persons who are associated with newspapers may know the actual law, will the hon. Gentleman bring in a Bill to define what is the legal responsibility, in connection with these matters, of those who publish newspapers?
§ Mr. PRINGLEDoes the right hon. Gentleman suggest that a newspaper which makes a news announcement of the result of a draw commits an offence?
Mr. HENDERSONI never made any such suggestion. [HON. MEMBERS: "Yes!"] What I said was that it was very difficult to see where the line could be drawn between a paper that may announce the result of a draw as an advertisement and another paper that may announce the result as news.
§ Mr. PRINGLEWhat was the sense of your remark at all?