§ MR. P. A. TAYLORsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to a report stating that the Leominster Magistrates have recently fined some boys 1s. and costs, or in default seven days' imprisonment, for playing cricket on Sunday and, whether he considers such conviction in accordance with the Law?
§ MR. GATHORNE HARDY, in reply, said, that the clerk to the justices at Leominster had written to him to explain that there had been no conviction before them of boys for playing at cricket on Sundays. A great number of boys had been in the habit of playing at cricket in a field of growing grass, and some were brought before the magistrates and fined 1s. and costs, which fines were immediately paid. The offence had nothing to do with its being Sunday, for they would have been equally summoned for playing in this field 305 on any other day. With regard to such a conviction being contrary to law, the hon. Member would find in the 71st volume of Hansard, third series, an opinion given by Sir Frederick Pollock on this subject.