HC Deb 31 July 1907 vol 179 cc953-4
MR. T. DAVIES (Fulham)

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been drawn to the practice of hawking beer from door to door in many districts in London and elsewhere; and, if so, will he consider the advisability of including in his forthcoming licensing legislation drastic provisions to put an end to this practice.

MR. RUNCIMAN (for Mr. Asquith)

The practice of delivering beer at private houses from traders' vans in execution † See (4) Debates, clxxix., 131. of orders previously received is widespread. Provided, however, orders for it have previously been given there is nothing illegal in the practice. It is of course probable that cases of genuine hawking occur, i.e., the delivery of beer to persons who have not previously ordered it. But the law is sufficiently strong to deal with such cases when detections can be made.