§ MR. KELLY (Camberwell, N.)asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the provisions of "The Metropolitan Fairs Act, 1868," are not now carried out, and that fairs, with shows, &c., are now held within the Metropolitan area, to the great annoyance, loss, and inconvenience of the ratepayers; and, whether the Act is treated as a nullity in pursuance of any order issued by himself to the Commissioners of Police of the Metropolis?
§ MR. MATTHEWSSince I have been at the Home Office I have had only one complaint with respect to annoyance caused by an exhibition of shooting galleries, swings, and roundabouts at Stratford. The police did not interfere, because they were advised that in that case the only remedy was by indictment, and there is no provision for the costs of prosecution in such a case. The Secretary of State, in 1884, directed the police not to interfere with similar shows, on the ground that they were innocent amusements of the humbler classes; but I do not understand this direction as nullifying the 124 Metropolitan Pairs Act, 1868, or preventing its application in suitable cases.