HC Deb 07 July 1873 vol 216 cc1856-8
MR. P. A. TAYLOR

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether his attention has been called to the case of William Garner, who has been sentenced to seven days' imprisonment for selling a penny bottle of gingerbeer in the parish of St. Pancras, in default of payment of seven shillings fine and costs; whether his attention has been called to the numerous prosecutions in three London parishes against the humbler class of Sunday traders; whether he intends to propose any modification of the existing Law and, whether he intends to propose the renewal of the Sunday Observation Amendment Act of 1871, which expires this year?

MR. BRUCE

Sir, William Garner was prosecuted with the sanction of the Chief Commissioner of Police by the parochial authorities of St. Pancras, and sentenced to pay a fine of 5s. and 2s. costs, or, in default of payment, to seven days' imprisonment, not for selling a bottle of ginger-beer, but for exercising his trade as a bird-seller on Sunday, the 23rd of June. He had been three times previously convicted. On the first occasion he was let off with a fine of ls., and each of the other occasions 5s., the full penalty, which was paid. On the occasion referred to it was proved that his shop was full of customers, and as he would not pay the fine he was sent to prison, from which he was released in the course of three days on paying the fine. I have communicated with the magistrates acting for the districts in which Sunday trading is most rife, and with the Chief Commissioner of Police as to the working of the Act of 1871. All concur in stating that the Act has been enforced with moderation, and that, while it does not interfere with the legitimate wants of the working population, a very considerable improvement has been made in the order and decency of the streets after half-past 10 o'clock on Sunday mornings. The following is an extract from the Report of one of the police magistrates acting for South-wark— When it is remembered that less than two years since 'The Cut' was a notorious Sunday market and fair, the resort of from 20,000 to 30,000 people collected from all parts of London, where costermongers, sham auctioneers, toy-sellers, quack medicine vendors, and dog and bird dealers vied with each other in noisy clamour, when the streets were impassable to vehicles, and blocked against foot-passengers resorting to their several places of worship, I consider the contrast which the same thoroughfare now presents of comparative freedom and quietude after half-past 10 in the morning is a sufficient compensation for the trouble and anxiety which have undoubtedly been occasioned to all the authorities concerned. I believe that these results have not been obtained without numerous prosecutions; but the result has been a general acquiescence on the part of the costermongers and the large majority of the shopkeepers with the law as enforced in these districts. I do not, therefore, propose to make any modification of the existing Law, and I do propose to renew the Sunday Observation Amendment Act, 1871.

MR. P. A. TAYLOR

gave Notice that he should oppose any renewal of the Act.