§ 68. Mr. Sorensenasked the Home Secretary why a request made by the local organiser of the Leyton Joint Committee for Spanish Aid for permission to hold a street collection on 25th March on behalf of Spanish refugees was refused by the police; and why the police would give no reason for the refusal?
§ Sir S. HoareAs the House is aware, endeavours have recently been made, in response to expressions of public opinion in this House and elsewhere, to reduce the number of street collections in London. The large charities, which have been holding street collections for years, have co-operated by amalgamating their appeals with the result that the number of days, on which the public are canvassed in the streets, has been greatly reduced. The number of applications, including applications for various local collections, is so large that some process of selection is inevitable, and the Commissioner, I understand, did not feel that it was possible to grant this application consistently with the general principles which must guide him in endeavouring to reduce within reasonable limits the number of street collections.
§ Mr. SorensenIs not the right hon. Gentleman aware that such street collections have taken place in the Borough of Leyton, and in existing international circumstances does he not think it highly desirable to assist rather than discourage this charitable cause?
§ Sir S. HoareI am always anxious to see charitable efforts subscribed to for this excellent purpose, but in the matter of street collections we must draw the line. There is an advisory committee which considers all these applications, and I cannot alter my view as to this particular one.