§ MR. PEEKasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the disfigurement, and in many cases permanent injury, inflicted on houses and walls (both public and private property) by sentences stencilled upon them; whether the information furnished to him shows that such disfigurement is generally effected in the night by men using light carts, who are altogether too quick for the police; and, whether the Home Secretary is prepared to act on the same plan as the Government Inspector of Telegraphs, who is reported to have threatened proceedings against the Chairman of the Republican Association at Ipswich if the bills of the society were found affixed, no matter by whom, to any of the Post Office poles in the neighbourhood?
MR. BRUCE, in reply, said, he could not say that any complaints such as those referred to in the Question had reached him; but he was informed by the Chief Commissioner of Police that the offence 532 was frequently committed, and that instructions had been given to the police, under 2 and 3 Vict., to arrest any person committing such an offence within his view. These persons, however, travelled in light carts, as the hon. Member said, and frequently eluded apprehension. One person had, however, been arrested; but as no one came forward to prosecute he was let go, upon giving his name and address, which having turned out false, led to his escaping punishment altogether. As to the latter part of the Question, he had referred to his right hon. Friend the Postmaster General, who stated that he was not aware that any such proceedings as those referred to had been taken or threatened. If any such proceedings had been taken, they had been taken on behalf of the Department as owners of the telegraph posts, and in the same way it was open to other owners of property defaced to put the law in motion.