§ Mr. GRETTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his attention has been called to the difficulty arising out of section 120 of the Children Act in the case of children being sent, as is a common practice, to pay their parents' 1145 periodical contributions to friendly societies whose meeting place is upon licensed premises; if the Government intended by the above Act to forbid children entering a room, not being a drinking bar, for the purpose of paying their parents' sick-club contributions; and, if not, what steps he proposes to take?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI have some letters on this subject, but I have no reason to think there is any difficulty. If the meeting place of the friendly society is a room used exclusively or mainly for the sale and consumption of drink the child is not allowed, and ought not to be allowed, to go there. If it is not so used the child may go there as at present, and may even pass through the bar to get there if there is no other access.
§ Mr. GRETTONIs it the intention of the Government that the Act should apply to rooms in licensed premises used by Friendly Societies?
§ Mr. GLADSTONEI am only concerned to see that the object of the particular clause of the Children's Bill as regards children going into public-houses is observed. I do not wish to put Friendly Societies to any unnecessary inconvenience.