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64
SHOWS, FAIRS, &c.
In January last the Vestry received a communication from Sir
Albert Rollit, M.P., inquiring whether it desired that the "Shows"
Bill drafted by the Vestry Clerk some two years since should be again
introduced into Parliament.
The Vestry it will be remembered had in January, 1889,
requested the Borough members to introduce a short Bill providing
summary powers for the suppression of all shows, fairs, &c., conducted
so as to be a nuisance to a neighbourhood on the ground that the
statutory powers possessed both by it and the police were inadequate
to deal effectively with exhibitions and shows held on private land.
The Vestry Clerk had drafted the Bill and forwarded it to Sir Albert
Rollit, who, however, had been unable hitherto to introduce it with any
chance of success. The Vestry being still of opinion that local
authorities should have more specific powers than are at present
possessed by them for dealing with the subject requested
Sir Albert Rollit to proceed with the Bill. The Bill was accordingly
introduced, but at Lady Day there seemed little hope of its becoming
law.
In June, 1890, the Vestry directed its Solicitor to indict the owner
for permitting, and a man named Thurston for conducting, shows on
a piece of waste ground adjoining the "Pocock Arms" tavern, Roman
Road. An arrangement was subsequently come to, however, by which
the shows were removed.
In November, 1890, the Vestry thought it desirable to take precautions
against the re-establishment of the shows which had for
years been the annoyance of the High Street during the holding of the
Cattle Show. Notices were exhibited in the neighbourhood cautioning
shopkeepers and others that the Vestry would take proceedings should
any such show be re-established, and the Solicitor to the Vestry was
directed to inform the occupiers of those houses against whom an
injunction had been obtained that if they ignored such injunction
committal warrants would be at once applied for.