§ MR. JAMES STUART (Shoreditch, Hoxton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether he had seen a report of the Judgment pronounced on Friday last by Mr. Justice Wills, in which that learned Judge stated that upon the materials brought before the Court there was no statutory right of meeting in Trafalgar Square; and whether the right hon. Gentleman would introduce a Bill giving to the Commissioner of Works powers over Trafalgar Square similar to those they exercised over Hyde Park and other public Parks in the matter of public meetings.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)I have seen only a newspaper report of the Judgment of Mr. Justice Wills. The Government have had no opportunity of considering the question raised by the hon. Member by the light of this Judgment; and I am not in a position to give him a pledge of any legislation on the subject.
§ MR. JAMES STUARTgave Notice that he would repeat the Question on a future occasion.
§ MR. CONYBEARE (Cornwall, Camborne)asked, Whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman had been called to complaints lodged against the police on Saturday last, with regard to their violent conduct in Trafalgar Square, and as to what action he proposed to adopt in the matter?
§ MR. MATTHEWSI have made such inquiry as was possible from the police respecting the complaint of the hon. Member. Their account differs materially from the suggestion contained in his Question; and I trust that the persons on whose behalf he speaks will bring the matter before a magistrate, where evidence can be given upon oath, and the police can be either punished, if they have done wrong, or publicly exonerated from blame.