HC Deb 21 March 1889 vol 334 cc398-9
MR. J. M. MACLEAN (Oldham)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention had been called to the following remarks made by Mr. Justice Grantham, in his recent charge to the Grand Jury of Glamorganshire:— His experience confirmed all that had been referred to lately as the experience of the police in the various counties of Wales. Wales had been made an experimental station for the purpose of testing the question of Sunday Closing, and he was glad that this was so, as it had enabled the question to be threshed out in a practical way. It fortified the opinion expressed by many that the Sunday Closing Act would not be a success. And if Her Majesty's Government will agree to the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into the working of the Welsh Sunday Closing Act, and will oppose any legislation to establish Sunday Closing in other parts of the United Kingdom till such Committee has made its report?

SIR WILFRID LAWSON (Cumberland, Cockermouth)

also asked whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman had been drawn to the following remarks of Mr. Justice Grantham, as reported in the Western Mail of 15th March, on the subject of Sunday Closing in Wales:— There is no doubt about it at all that there is less drunkenness where there is more drink than there is where there is more teetotalism. Wales has undoubtedly been made a sort of experimental station for the purpose of testing this question. But we must do something else, try something else, find out something else, before we can prevent the amount of drunkenness which undoubtedly is very serious in this country. And whether the Government are prepared to give effect to these remarks?

MR. W. JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)

I wish to ask whether it is a fact that the Act prohibiting the sale of Intoxicating Liquors on Sundays throughout every part of Scotland, passed in this House in 1853, has been in force since 1854 with satisfaction to the community at large; and, whether a similar law has been in existence affecting Ireland since 1878, and that a Select Committee of this House which sat last Session to inquire into the working of the Act reported that— None of the evils which were predicted by some persons as likely to ensue from the passing of the Act have been proved to have arisen to any appreciable extent, and recommended the continuance and extension of the Act?

MR. MATTHEWS

The Government are of opinion that, in view of recent experience as to the operation of the Sunday Closing Act in Wales, inquiry into the working of that measure will be desirable; and they have it under consideration in what way the inquiry had best be conducted, whether by Special Committee or by Royal Commission.

MR. J. O'CONNOR

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, when such Committee or Commission is appointed, he will take care that the Committee is not packed in the same manner—[Cries of "Order!"]

*MR. SPEAKER

I must remind the hon. Member that the same law applies to supplemental questions as to that of questions put on the Paper, and the form of the hon. Member's question would not be admitted upon the Paper.

MR. J. O'CONNOR

Will the right hon. Gentleman take care that this Commission or Committee will not have an undue proportion of Members who have been previously pledged to carry out legislation against the sale of intoxicating liquors?

MR. MATTHEWS

I think it is hardly necessary to state that the Government will take care that every interest is represented.