§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether on February 24, 1888, he approved an addition to the by-laws of the Metropolitan Board of Works, under which additional by-law the collections for the Hospital Sunday Fund have since been prevented on the open spaces under the control of the Board; whether he is aware that one prosecution has been actually commenced, and other prosecutions are now being threatened by the Metropolitan Board of Works, against working men and others for making collections on such open spaces in connection with otherwise lawful public objects; whether he will state to the House the facts on which his decision to create this new offence was based; whether public collections have been for more than 40 years made on the open spaces of the Metropolis for political, social, and pub- 250 lic charitable objects; and, whether he will state any cases of evil resulting therefrom?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)Yes, Sir; at the time named I did approve a by-law prohibiting persons from soliciting or gathering money in certain Parks and open spaces from persons frequenting the same. I have not been able to ascertain at present whether the Hospital Sunday Fund collection has been prevented under this by-law. I am informed by the Board that in two or three cases the names of the offenders have been taken, the Board awaiting the result of the case now pending before a magistrate. In 1887 complaint was made to the Board by a ratepayer that the practice of soliciting money after meetings was being abused. A Committee of the Board thereon made inquiry; and they found reason to believe that certain persons availed themselves of the permission to hold public meetings for the sake of collecting money for their own purposes, and made a living by it. I cannot say whether collections have been made for more than 40 years in the open spaces of the Metropolis; but I am informed by the Board that it has not until recently been the practice in the Parks under their control. The Board do not allege any evil result beyond annoyance of which members of the public complained; and they proposed the by-law with the view of protecting the public from the abuse to which the practice was liable.
§ MR. LAWSON (St. Pancras, W.)asked the Home Secretary, whether he was aware that under this by-law the Sunday music provided by the Sunday League in the Parks would be absolutely stopped, as no collections could be made?
§ MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)inquired whether, in the opinion of the Home Secretary, it would be for the public benefit to stop the collection for this music?
§ MR. MATTHEWSsaid, that he had given all the information in his possession to the House. The practice had grown up quite recently in the Parks under the control of the Board. He would inquire whether any evils had resulted from these public collections.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHasked whether, as a matter of ordinary law, persons 251 could not be prosecuted if they asked for money for private purposes?
§ MR. MATTHEWSsaid, that he never attempted to solve questions of ordinary law with the hon. Member.
§ MR. J. ROWLANDSasked, what was the custom with regard to those Parks which were not under the control of the Metropolitan Board of Works?
§ MR. MATTHEWSsaid, that he was not aware, but would inquire.
§ MR. CUNNINGHAME GRAHAM (Lanark, N.W.)asked whether, in view of the fact that disturbance might probably arise from the carrying out of this by-law, he would order that these prosecutions should be discontinued where the collection had been made for a bonâ fide political meeting?
§ MR. MATTHEWSsaid, he was afraid it was beyond his power to make such an order.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHsaid, that as this was a matter affecting the whole of the Metropolis, and as these collections had been made for a period of over 30 years, he should, in the event of obtaining no more satisfactory answer on Monday, move the adjournment of the House, to call attention to the subject as a matter of urgent public importance.