§ MR. H. F. BEAUMONTsaid, he would beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he is aware that the Act 16 and 17 Vic, c. 119, for the suppression of Betting Houses, is not enforced; and whether he will use such means as are in his power to enforce the Act forthwith?
MR. BRUCE, in reply, said, it was not altogether correct to say that this Act had not been enforced, seeing that within the last few years there had been five convictions under it. Great difficulty, however, existed in obtaining convictions under that Act, owing to the necessity of proving the fact that betting had been carried on in these houses, the owners of which took care there should be no betting in them during the presence of those who were not well known to them. Within the last month a conviction was obtained under the Act, and penalties of £50 and of £25 were imposed upon two of the persons present. The Chief Commissioner of Police was actively engaged in endeavouring to suppress these houses, and instituted prosecutions in every case in which evidence could be obtained to prove the illegal acts.