LORD DE ROS,in rising to ask, Whether any powers exist for the prevention of persons calling out in the public streets sensational matter which may or may not exist in the newspapers which they offer for sale? said, he had no wish to prevent the free and legitimate circulation of news, especially in these very anxious times, but he thought the way in which news was sometimes communicated ought to be put a stop to. At the present time men and boys were constantly going about the streets shouting out, "Another battle!" "Frightful slaughter!" and such like cries. Sometimes the news was true and sometimes it was not; but he thought some steps should be taken to check the nuisance occasioned. Many of the cries were utterly opposed to all the common dictates of humanity. Only a few weeks ago a report arrived of the death of a gallant General Officer who was killed in action. It was only through the considerate intervention of a private friend that this was not communicated to the unfortunate wife of the General through the shouts of the newsvendors in the streets. Without entering into the matter, he might mention the case of a certain Member of their Lordships' House who, on finding that a news-vendor was calling out something that did not appear in the papers, proceeded against the man in the Police Court and had him punished by the magistrate.
THE EARL OF DALHOUSIEsaid, he believed there was no Act of Parliament restricting or prohibiting street cries, for the purpose of selling newspapers, and the Home Secretary did not consider that any fresh legislation on the subject was advisable. If newspapers were sold purporting to contain news which they did not contain, that would constitute an indictable offence, and the person selling the papers could be prosecuted for obtaining money by false pretences. He was not, however, aware 1670 of the existence of any general provision for preventing news, whether true or false, from being cried in the streets.
§ VISCOUNT BURYasked if the noble Earl was quite sure that no Acts of Parliament existed dealing with street cries?
THE EARL OF DALHOUSIEsaid, that his reply referred only to the announcement of news, whether true or false.