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THAT the Local Authorities of the Metropolis do not possess sufficient statutory powers to enable
them to deal summarily with, or to control the holding of such exhibitions and amusements, so that the
same may be carried on in a decent and orderly manner and without being a nuisance and annoyance to
the neighbourhood.
THAT attempts have been made from time to time by various local authorities before the magistrates
sitting at the Metropolitan Police Courts, to deal with these cases on Sanitary (as well as on other) grounds
under the Nuisances Removal Acts, but in each instance, as far as is within your Memorialists' knowledge,
such attempts have failed for want of sufficient statutory powers.
THAT it will be for the general benefit and welfare of a large portion of the Metropolitan Ratepayers
that the local authorities should be empowered to deal summarily with cases of this description, in order that
they may control the holding of such exhibitions and the erection of such swings, &c., so as to prevent the
nuisance now complained of.
YOUR MEMORIALISTS therefore humbly pray,
THAT you will be pleased to obtain powers in the next Session of Parliament enabling local authorities
in the Metropolis to deal summarily with and exercise control over persons setting up shows or exhibitions,
and carrying on such amusements as are above described, in localities where the same constitute a
nuisance to the respectable householders who are at present unable to obtain redress except at a great
personal cost.
Sealed by order of the Vestry on the
4th day of December, 1883.
{Signed) JAMES J. STOKES,
Clerk to the Vestry.
The Vestry communicated with the other Vestries and District Boards of Works
in the Metropolis, asking their support to the prayer of the Memorial.
In February, 1884, the Vestry applied to the Secretary of State to receive a
Deputation from them, and the several other Vestries and District Boards in the
Metropolis interested, upon the subject of the Memorial, and on the 11th March, 1884,
the Deputation appointed by the Vestry, viz., the Rev. Edward Josselyn Beck, Rector
(the chairman), Mr. Churchwarden Foottit, and Messrs. John Bulmer and Francis
John Bisley, together with the Delegates appointed by several other Vestries and
District Boards in the Metropolis, had an interview by appointment with the Secretary
of State for the Home Department, at the House of Commons, upon the subject of the
Memorial. The Home Secretary (Sir William Harcourt), in reply, expressed himself
decidedly unfavorable to the views of the Deputation, stating he would be sorry to
restrict poor people and children from such harmless entertainments as they could get;
that if the cheap entertainments in question really led to serious evils, or were demoralising
and led to breaches of public order. Parliament and the police might interfere;
but so long as they gave occasional amusement without any serious harm he could not
promise to interfere. The Deputation having pointed out that the Travelling Shows
were often a nuisance to shopkeepers and inhabitants of private houses, Sir William
Harcourt said it often happened that individuals had to suffer more or less for the
advantage of the majority, but most residents in private houses had a great deal of
comfort and enjoyment in their lives, where the poor folk who patronised the entertainments
complained of had too little comfort and enjoyment.