§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Home Secretary whether the action of the police at Brockley in suppressing public whist 1578 drives has his sanction; and whether he intends to instruct the police to suppress these entertainments throughout the Metropolis?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am informed that the police at Brockley have not taken any action of the nature indicated. What happened was that the police received an anonymous letter reporting that an illegal whist drive was about to take place at the parish hall, and they thought it right to show the letter to the vicar, who had let the hall for the day in question. The vicar put the matter before the churchwardens, who informed the parties concerned that the drive must not take place. There is no present intention to issue instructions for the general suppression of whist drives in the Metropolis.
§ Viscount WOLMERAre whist drives illegal?
§ Mr. McKENNAA legal question of that kind should be addressed to the Attorney-General.
§ Viscount WOLMERThe right hon. Gentleman, being a lawyer all his life, might know the law?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am a very bad lawyer.