HC Deb 10 August 1871 vol 208 cc1319-20
MR. BAILLIE COCHRANE

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether the provision of Act of 57 Geo. 3, c. 19, that any meeting, unless called by seven householders by a signed notice for alteration of matters established in Church and State, or for the purpose or on the pretext of deliberating upon any grievance in Church and State, shall be deemed to be unlawful assemblies, would not justify him in prohibiting the meetings in Hyde Park and Trafalgar Square?

MR. BRUCE

I am not at all surprised, Sir, at my hon. Friend having fallen into the error into which he has been betrayed. This Statute of 57 Geo. III., c. 19, consists of two parts. The first 21 clauses were temporary in their operation, and if my hon. Friend will turn to the 22nd clause he will find that all the preceding ones, including that which he has quoted, are only to endure until a certain day in the year 1818. Therefore, the whole of that portion of the Act has been inoperative since 1818. The clause with regard to petitioning is the 23rd in that Act.