SUNDAY TRADING (METROPOLIS) BILL. (Hansard, 17 April 1855)

§ LORD ROBERT GROSVENOR
moved for leave to bring in a Bill to put further restrictions upon Sunday trading in the metropolis. He said the growing evils of Sunday trading had frequently occupied the attention of both sides of the House, and the inquiries that had been voted always resulted in a Report that the present state of the law was insufficient, and that further legislation was necessary. Therefore he did not expect that his Motion would meet with much opposition. It might be said that it was inexpedient at the present moment to renew au effort that had already been made several times without success, but his reply to that was, that the subject had never been brought under the consideration of the present Parliament. A former measure, introduced by the hon. Member for Lambeth (Mr. Wilkinson), had failed, but then the difficulties in the way of getting a Member's Bill through the House were almost insurmountable. He himself once proposed a small Bill, of three clauses in length, and it took him three Sessions to get it passed. The hon. Member for Lambeth also had had his Bill referred to a Select Committee, who so altered it as to render it, in the opinion of those who proposed it, entirely inoperative. He hoped he should have better luck. He had no intention of referring his Bill to a Select Committee, and the three hon. Gentlemen who were the strongest opponents of the Bill of the hon. Member for Lambeth had ceased to be Members of the House. He should go into the details of his Bill when it came to a second reading.

§ VISCOUNT EBRINGTON
said, he begged to second the Motion. On religious grounds he believed that the measure was one of urgent necessity, inasmuch as those persons most conversant with statistics of crime bore testimony to the evil effects of Sabbath breaking as the commencement frequently of a vicious career. It was also desirable, inasmuch as it would give to many persons that rest of body and mind for the enjoyment of which the Sabbath was originally appointed. He supported the measure also upon economical grounds, because, so far from believing that a restriction upon Sunday trading would be injurious to the interests of the labouring classes, he thought that the practical effect of such trading was to compel a certain class of persons to do seven days' work for six day's profit.

§ SIR JOHN SHELLEY
said, he was anxious to give every support in his power to a Bill for the prevention of unnecessary Sunday trading in the metropolis, but he should have liked to have heard a little explanation about it on the present occasion.