§ 65. Major EDMONDSONasked the Home Secretary whether his attention has been called to the decision given in the King's Bench Divisional Court on the 11th instant with regard to the illegality of progressive whist drives; and whether he proposes to take such steps as will make it possible for this amusement to be continued as in the past?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThis judgment has not yet been fully reported, but I would remind the hon. and gallant Member that a whist drive was held unlawful so long ago as 1912 and possibly earlier. At the moment I do not propose to take any special action in the matter.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that as a result of the many restrictions and interferences which he and his colleagues have imposed on the sports and recreations of this country, they are regarded by the population as a Government of killjoys and that he himself is known in certain quarters by the epithet "Kill Joy Jix"?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI am obliged to the hon. Member for a piece of information of which I was not aware.
§ Mr. MAXTONI thought you ought to know.
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe decision of the Court in this ease dates from 1912, when this Government was not in office at all. Only the other day the decision was confirmed by the present Lord Chief Justice and his colleagues. All I can say at the moment, after making inquiries in my legal department, is that it seems that nothing can be done without an alteration of the law by Act of Parliament. I cannot over-ride the decisions of the Courts of Law.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these whist drives are very harmless amusements and that they keep people 1041 out of mischief, and can he not take some steps to make them legal by passing an Act of Parliament?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSIt is a matter for the House of Commons. I have no objection to whist drives, they are a very innocent amusement, but I am bound to administer the law, and the police are bound to administer the law as laid down by His Majesty's Judges.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYCannot the right hon. Gentleman wink his eye at them?
§ Mr. HASLAMCannot the right hon. Gentleman say that he will introduce legislation?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI must wait until the case is fully reported in the Law Reports, and then I will consider the whole question. I cannot at this stage of the Session promise any legislation. I shall be able to make a further statement, perhaps, in a fortnight's time.
§ Mr. DAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether ordinary whist drives are illegal or only whist drives for prizes?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI think the decision of the Lord Chief Justice depends entirely upon the question whether there is a money prize given for the whist drive.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONIn view of the great uncertainty on the part of the pro-motors of whist drives, and in view of the uncertainty in regard to cocoanut shies and hoop-la, and as these things are almost the main Conservative propaganda in this country, will the right hon. Gentleman take action?