THE MARQUESS OF WESTMEATHpresented a Petition, [signed by upwards of 400 inhabitant householders in the districts of Belgravia and Belgravia South, praying for the surpression of the nuisance of barrel or hand organs in the streets of the Metropolis, as permitted by the Metropolitan Police Act. The noble Marquess animadverted in strong terms upon the intolerable nature of the nuisance, and complained that the powers given by the Act were found in pratice to be useless, and that it was 1352 impossible to adapt its provisions to what were conceived to be the intentions of the Legislature. A foreigner with an organ appeared in front of a House where there might be a dying or a sick person. It was of no use whatever to request him to go away; and if a family sent for a policeman, in all probability he was not to be found, or if he were he could only order the disturber of the peace of the neighbourhood to move on. When the police were remonstrated with, they replied, "What are we to do? We cannot do more. If we exceed our authority we shall be punished." Consequently these people had perfect impunity to annoy the inhabitants as much as they pleased. The petitioners very properly stood upon their rights. They said that the nuisance was a positive invasion of those rights. They contended that they had a right to live at peace in their own habitations, but they could not do so by reason of the existence of this nuisance. The noise made by these organ players extended to a considerable distance up and down and on each side of the street, so that upon a moderate calculation some twenty or thirty householders must be annoyed at one time. In many families music masters were employed; but how was it possible for them to give lessons to the young ladies, if, as soon as they came to the house, one of these street nuisances made his appearance? [Laughter.] He could assure their Lordships that it was by no means a laughing matter, but a very grave subject. Before the meeting of Parliament he had waited upon the late Home Secretary, Sir George Grey, respecting the question, who had told him that he would refer the matter to the Police Commissioners, and he understood that Sir Richard Mayne had made a report strongly condemnatory of the nuisance. The petitioners earnestly prayed their Lordships to pass such an enactment as would have the effect of restoring to them the right to enjoy tranquillity at their homes, of which the imperfect legislation of the Police Act had been the means of depriving them.
VISCOUNT DUNGANNONsaid, he had never before heard so much ado about nothing. True, the noble Marquess and those householders who felt with him might dislike the music of the barrel organ in the streets, but there was no doubt that there were a great many persons who derived pleasure and amusement from it. He thought it was most unseemly on the part 1353 of the noble Marquess to occupy so much of their Lordships' time with a matter of this trifling and insignificant character.
THE MARQUESS OF WESTMEATHsaid, that the Petition was numerously and respectably signed; and that being so, he denied that he had improperly taken up the time of the House.
§ Petition to he upon the table.