The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-27 00:00:00

PROTECTION OF TRADE.

An extraordinary general meeting of the Society
of Guardians for the Protection of Trade, established
upwards of seventy years ago, " for the protection of
traders against swindlers and sharpers," was held on
Tuesday, at •the offices, 1.3, St. Swithin'a-lane, City,
to ballot for proposed new members, and to consider
the propriety of petitioning Parliament for an amend-
ment of the laws respecting the lending of goods on
hire ; and also as to the appointment of a public pro-
secutor, and the lessening of expenses in criminal
proceedings. Mr. Alderman Farehrother presided.

The first business proceeded with was the election
of members.

Mr. LEEKS, the secretary, in bringing forward the
next' matter for consideration, namely, "The propriety
of petitioning Parliament for an amendment of the
laws respecting the lending of goods on hire," re-
marked that the society had received a letter from
Messrs. Collard and Collard ,on the subject. These
gentlemen complained in bitter terms of the present
law of landlord and tenant, and stated that, in some
cases, landlords allowed rent to accumulate before
they seized, when there was property in the house,
although that property did not belong to the tenant,
but had been hired from other parties. Messrs.
Collard suggested that an early meeting should be
called in order to form a deputation to Lord John
Russell. Front Mr. Chappell, of Old Bond street, a
letter had also been received. That gentleman stated
that, during the last 17 years, he had been in the
habit of lending out harps and other musical in-
struments on hire. In cases where he could not get
his instruments back, his only remedy was to com-
mence an action of trover, but the law expenses
would amount to more than double the value of the
Instrument.

Mr. RIDGWAY contended that the existing law
acted very prejudicially en -the interests of many who
ought to be able to look to it for protection. A case
had come under his own notice which would illustrate
that point. A tailor in New Bond-street had in his
house a large quantity of goods belonging to other
persons, who were abroad ; the second floor in his
house was let to a milliner; and the upper portion of
the house to another person. When the tailor died
the rent had accumulated to 335/. On the day the
man was buried the landlord put an execution into
the house, and not content with taking the goods of
the tailor, and the whole of the property of Captain
Grey, of the 17th Dragoons, who happened to be
there, but the whole of the stock of the milliner was
seized, because she had not walked out the day the
man died. It was the landlord's fault that the rent
had been allowed to accumulate, and no blame could
attach to those whose property was forfeited. He
thought the society ought to protect such persons.
Alderman FAREDROTHER—Suppose a deputation
went up to Lord J. Russell to speak to him on the
point, the very next day a deputation would go up
from the landlords, praying that they might be pro-
tected from persons sending in goods without a proper
consideration. He might say that tradesmen had no
right to send out these things to enable persons to
make a deceptive appearance. He had no hesitation
in saying that if Mr. Collard or another person had
applied to him in his magisterial capacity for a sum-
mons, ordering property to be immediately delivered
up, he should have granted it.
Mr. BARBER (of the firm of Barber, Howes, and
Co., St. Paul's Churchyard) said that during the last
few years he had been actively engaged in bringing
to light swindling transactions, and in handing over
to justice their perpetrators. The number and ex-
tent of these transactions in the city. of London
were incredible, and so they would continue to be
until the Legislature directed its attention to the
matter. From information which we had received,
he found that the most cunning persons might be
taken in by those swindlers. The only way in which
they could put a stop to their malpractices would be
the amendment of the law, making it a transportable
offence, and the appointment of a public prosecutor.
In France and Germany there was a public prose-
cutor, but in England there was nothing of the kind.
—(llean) If the threat of transportation were held
out to such fellows as those by whom Mr. Gray was
victimised, there would not be so many of them infest-
ing that and other cities.

Mr. BREWSTER suggested, that as Lord Brougham
had intimated his intention of bringing in a Bill on
the subject of the criminal law, the matter should be
referred to him.

Mr. BARBER moved the following resolution :
"That on the suggestion of several influential mem-
bers of the Society of Guardians for the Protection
of Trade, a public meeting of traders he called, for
the purpose of considering the necessity for an
amendment of the law respecting the lending of
goods on hire; the appointment of a public prose-
cutor, the lessening of expenses in criminal cases,
and the:more effectual punishment of swindlers and
bill-stealers."
Mr. COLLARD seconded the motion.
After a lengthened discussion, in which several
gentlemen joined, the resolution was carried.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the pro-
ceedings.