HC Deb 24 June 1890 vol 345 cc1784-5

From Representations and Information laid before the Borough Magistrates this day, they are of opinion that the holding of the Public Demonstration and Discussion to be held on the Market Square to-morrow (Sunday) evening, at Eight o'clock, is calculated to provoke Disorder and a Breach of the Peace, and do Prohibit the Holding of such Demonstration and Discussion at the Place named, and Declare the same an unlawful assembly. And they warn all persons who hold, or attempt to, or take part in the same, after the Publication of this prohibition, that they are liable to imprisonment for so doing.—June 21st, 1890."

MR. BRADLAUGH (Northampton)

May I ask whether the attention of the right hon. Gentleman has been drawn to the case of "Beatty and Gillbank, in which the Queen's Bench held that a declaration such as the Northampton Magistrates have issued was illegal, and that Magistrates have no authority to declare an assembly unlawful on the mere ground that there are persons opposed to its object who might be disorderly?

MR. C. R. SPENCER (Northants, Mid)

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman can tell from whom the Magistrates obtained the extraordinary information that the demonstration was likely to provoke disorder?

MR. MATTHEWS

I am sorry to say I cannot answer the last question put to me. I am informed by the Magistrates that they prohibited the meeting in the Market Square on the ground that a breach of the peace and disorder were anticipated, at the same time offering the racecourse as a place of meeting. The second and third paragraphs of the question of the senior Member for Northampton raise questions of law which cannot be exhaustively dealt with in the compass of an answer. I am advised that a prohibition of a meeting by Magistrates operates only as a warning that a particular meeting is likely to become an unlawful assembly, and does not of itself involve legal penalties, which will, however, be incurred if the meeting proves in fact to be an unlawful assembly.

MR. LABOUCHERE

The matter being of such grave importance I shall take the earliest opportunity of calling further attention to it.

MR. T. M. HEALY

Is the law the same for the three countries?

MR. MATTHEWS

I believe there is no difference in the law.