The Express.
London, England, 1867-11-08 00:00:00

THE NEW METROPOLITAN STREET ACT.

A deputation from the coetermongers of the
metropolis, consisting of Mr. Godfrey Harris, Mr. James
Blackburn, Mr. Henry Lashbrook, and Mr. George Stoat,
waited on the Home Secretary, to present • memorial,
agreed to at • public meeting held in Whit/chapel-lull,
St. Mary-street, the other evening, with regard to the
street-selling in the metropolis.
The deputation was introduced by the Rev. JAMES
COHEN, M.A.., the rector of Wbitechapel, who, together
with the Rev. Thomas Scott, the chaplain of the London
Hospital, accompanied therm He stated that it was
estimated that, within the district of Whitechapel
Union alone, 2,000 sellers in the streets would
be deprived of employment, and with their families,
to the number of 10,000, would become dependent on
the parish. He considered that the shopkeepers in „the
neighbourhood did not object to cupterung.gers, who fre-
quently sold a large quantity of good food to the inhabitants
of the locality. For instance, the other day there was a
great excess of fish at Billingsgate-market. These men
went down with their carts, brought up the fish, land
retailed it at a very small profit. There was another
reason why the eostermougers should not be interfered
with in Whitechapel, for they carried on their business
for the most part on • piece of waste land, and, therefore,
in no way inconvenienced the traffic. He could assure
the right hon. gentleman that there was a perfect panic
amunlst the sellers in the streets, who now saw their only
means of subsistence removed. He concluded by banding
in the memorial, which prayed the Home Secretary to
exercise hiss prerogative and prevent the sixth clause of
the new act from being enforced.
Mr. HANDY asked whether any one bad appeared to
protest against the clause when it was leasing through the
House of Lords? No one had done so when it was before
the House of Commons.

Mr. Coils:: thought not, for these men were not likely
even to inquire about the act until it was enforced and
they realised the position in which they were placed.
Mr. HARDT inquired whether the police bad intimated
that they would enforce the clause.
A lifsmses of the deputation said they had ; he had
beard of a case that morning in which a man in Leather-
lane, Holborn, had been prohibited from selling in the
street.

Mr. HARDT said he bad determined to receive the depu-
tation to understand exactly how matters stood. The
clause not only affected coaterrnongers, but also tradesmen
who exhibited their wares on the pavement outside their
shops. He bad not the slightest power to suspend the act,
or to prevent the clause from being enforced. The matter
ought to have been brought before the notice of the com-
mittee when it was sitting on the subject.
A MRSIBER of the deputation said it was a very serious
thing for him. His mother had kept a stall during the
greater part of her life, and he had had me for eighteen
years ; he did not know what he should do if prevented
from gaining his livelihood in this way. He had always
conducted himself well. and, instead of opposing, had
with many others always assisted the police in the execu-
tion of their duty.
Mr. Hardy remarked that he was very anxious that the
police should carry out the provisions of the sot with as
little harshness as possible. Ile would see Captain Har-
ris and Sir Richard Mayne when the latter returned to
town, and would see whether the measure could not be
modified in some way so as to prevent any unnecessary
hardship.
The deputation having thanked the right hon. gentle-
man for his courtesy, withdrew.

A preliminary meeting was held last night at
Trenter's East Central Coffee-house. Jevrin-street, Crip-
plegate, with a view to forming a co-operative society for
the supply of bread and flour. A committee was appointed.