§ MR. H. S. FOSTER (Suffolk, Lowestoft)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any power rests with him or with the police authorities of the Metropolis, to abate the nuisance which now pervades the streets and squares of London, day and night, Sunday and week day, from the cries of news hawkers shouting war news, to the unrest of the inhabitants, and especially of those who have relatives at the front; and if no power exists to abate the nuisance, whether he will take steps to obtain such power?
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir M. WHITE RIDLEY,) Lancashire, BlackpoolUnder the law as it at present stands it 441 is open to the police to take proceedings in cases where the facts admit of proof of the offence or attempted offence of obtaining money by knowingly crying false news. This is a matter which it is very difficult to prove, but in some cases convictions have been obtained by the police. The London County Council have been in communication with me on the subject, and with a view to abating this nuisance, which has been brought to my notice more than once lately and to which I am fully alive, a byelaw has been framed, the terms of which I have approved, and will I understand be considered by them at their next meeting.
§ MR. H. S. FOSTERDoes it apply merely to the crying of false news, or does it apply to the crying in a blood-curdling voice of war news day and night?
§ * SIR M. WHITE RIDLEYThe bye-law applies to the calling of newspapers so as to be a public nuisance.