§ MR. SAMUEL SMITH (Flintshire)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to the display of obscene pictures by means of the penny-in-the-slot machines on the shores of Southport, Blackpool, and several of the other popular seaside resorts; whether he is aware that these machines have been suppressed at Rhyl; and whether he could see his way to urge upon the various local authorities the necessity for suppressing these indecent exhibitions.
§ * SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYMy attention had not been called to this matter, but I am aware that some of the pictures exhibited in mutoscopes on Rhyl sands were withdrawn, objection having been taken to them on the score of indecency. At Blackpool the police were instructed to visit and inspect the machines in question, but found nothing which would justify criminal proceedings. I have no reason to suppose that at other places the local authorities are backward in enforcing the law against obscene exhibitions.