§ MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, in the recent vote taken on the proposal to establish a public library in Marylebone, the police who distributed the voting papers in some cases actually delivered with the voting papers another paper calling on ratepayers to vote "No;" whether the policeman who actually delivered such papers at 53, Berners Street, Oxford Street, stated that he believed the paper asking ratepayers to reject the scheme was issued by the same authority as the voting paper; and, whether he will take immediate steps to prevent any recurrence of such employment of the police?
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE (Mr. MATTHEWS) (Birmingham, E.)No, Sir; I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the fact is not as stated. The police distributed the voting papers, but no other paper. I am not aware what belief the policeman who delivered a voting paper at 53, Berners Street, expressed about the other paper with which he had nothing to do. The police have been engaged in distributing voting papers since 1837. This practice has been adopted at the desire of the parishes, and I see no reason to interfere with it.
§ MR. BRADLAUGHasked, whether, if he placed in the hands of the right hon. Gentleman evidence that papers of the kind described were distributed by the police with the voting papers, the right hon. Gentleman would direct inquiries to be made?
§ MR. MATTHEWSsaid, he would be happy to consider any evidence the hon. Member laid before him.