HC Deb 19 December 1952 vol 509 cc1793-4

"In view of the great anxiety at present existing in the public mind regarding the sale of certain articles (rubber coshes and similar items), the National Association of Toy Retailers feels it proper to make clear its views and to give the guidance and leadership that it should upon this matter.

In the first place, the Association wishes to emphasise that in its considered opinion, coshes, knuckledusters and the like are quite unsuitable as toys, and that it is certain that from every point of view that the sale of such objects is undesirable. The Association therefore advises retailers, whether members of the Association or not, to withdraw these and similar articles from sale forthwith.

The Association must again make it clear, however, that it cannot agree that the demand raised in certain quarters for the banning of any and every form of what might be termed offensive weapons'—even bows and arrows—is in any way justified.

The Association is confident that although it is admittedly very hard to define these things in legalistic, hard and fast terms, yet in practice it will be simple enough to draw the line between the clearly undesirable toy, such as the rubber cosh, and the clearly innocent bow and arrow, water pistol or cap pistol.

As to the demand for legislation, the Association does not believe that this is either practicable (in view of the difficulties of definition which would inevitably arise) or desirable. This is surely a matter which can, should and must be left to the good sense of the public and of the Trade.

In conclusion, the Association would again bring to the urgent attention of toy traders throughout the country, its strong conviction that that class of so called toys to which exception is properly being taken, are quite unsuitable as children's playthings, and ought not to be stocked or sold in the future."