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THE BUTE -.DOCK BILL. 1 .4,

CARDIFF WATCH COMMITTEE

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

CARDIFF WATCH COMMITTEE SUNDAY TRADING PROSECUTIONS. THE IRISH AND THE WELSH. OVERCROWDING PASSENGER STEAMERS. The monthly meeting of the town council as a watch committee was held at the Council Chamber on Wednesday, Alderman Evans pre- siding. There were also present Aldermen Lewis and Elliott, Councillors Trounce, Rees Enoch, R. Bird, T. Rees, A. Fulton, T. Evans, T. W. Jacobs, D. Jones, J. Evans, T. Waring, P. W. Carey, T. V. Yorath, W. D. Blessley, and M. Morgan. The Head Constable reported that owing to the magistrates on the 28th ult. expressing their strong disapproval of the prosecution of small shop- keepers keeping open on Sunday, he had not proceeded against any one for the same offence since. Some of the de- fendants informed the magistrates that they could not keep on the business if not allowed to open on Sundays, which was sometimes the best day in the week. Several were poor, and it ap peared a hardship to the bench to inflict a penalty. It was suggested that he should not summon the poorer classes, but he replied that he must sum- mon all or none. There was- considerable diffi- culty in securing convictions, and in some cases the magistrates declined to punish. Air REES thought that it formed no part of the duty of the bench to teach the council what to do. If the public-houses under the Sunday Closing Act were closed next September, then it would be hardship to the licensed victualler if other trades- men. were allowed to keep open. Mr TROUNCE urged persistence in the course. Already the number of tradesmen so offending were much reduced, owing to the action of the bead constable. The Head Constable said that it was a very 8ld act, and the bench considered that it ought not to be enforced. Mr MOAAAU But there is a penalty also for non-attendance at church. Persons so offendiag can be fined 5s. for every offence. If you put one law in force,, put the other also. I Mr RKJEB That is quite A different matter. Mr Meaui-Ai* said that the same steps had been taken at Swaasea and other places, but the public feeling was strong against it, and it was aban- doned. They would only find that it caused greater trouble in the future. Mr Wheatley, the town clerk, said that the proceedings had been attended with very marked results. Out of the 300 shops that were formerly kept open, there were now from 12 to 20 only. Of course the watch committee could not control the i magistrates. They bad a discretionary power, and the defendants, no doubt, would bring out some special features which would arouse the sym- pathy \>f the bench, and the proceedings probably fail, but in other eases the bench would convict. If the watch committee desired that the matter should go on, the head constable would still pro- ceed against them. Mr THOMAS EVANS If every tradesman in Cardiff opened his. shop on Sundays, would no proceedings be taken against them ? It is a matter of no consequence whether the shops are large or small, and whether one or three hundred. It is the principle we have te consider. Mr MORGAN: Suppose the person is fined; what is the next step ? The Town Clerk: A fine is inflicted, and I think there would be no difficulty with that under the Summary Jurisdiction Act. Mr MORGAN But failing a distress ? The Town Clerk: Failing a distress, the party could be put in the stocks. Mr MOBGAN I Yes, that is the remedy. You cannot carry out the act. Mr ENOCH thought that the town clerk could appeal in cases where the magistrates declined to convict. Mr CAREY pointed out that the few who were sum- moned were widows and old pensioners or some- thing of that nature, who had been found selling sweets or similar articles to children. It was better to let them go on than to allow them to become a burthen to the parish. The large shop- keepers would not object. Mr THOS. EVANS What we contend is that no porsou is justified in carrying on his business on Sundays. Mr JACOBS thought that things might now be allowed to remain as they were. There were but very few shops kept open, and they were small ones. It was not a serious reflection on the morality of the town, as those who kept open seemed only to supply a few small children with sweets, &c. He thought they might well decline to give the head constable any further instruc- tions on the subject. Some people, and especially the working men, might sometimes be put to con- siderable inconvenience in not being able to ob- tain a few things on Sunday morning. Mr ENOCH mentioned that the law-breakers would be found among the foreigners. In the list originally given by the head constable, there was only the name of one Welshman. Mr REUS looked upon it as a matter of principle, and if one shop was allowed open, the whole might. It was not a question whether the shop was small or large. Proceedings had been taken, fines inflicted, and when the magistrates express themselves in the way they did, they express themselves against the law. But they had only to administer the law, not make it or refuse to put it in force. It was a great in- justice to those who closed that others should be allowed to keep o{>en. It was not a question whfether those who kept open were widows or pensioners. If they infringed the law he would bring the law down upon them as readily as upon any one else. They had to cause the law to be put in force, and if they did not do so Cardiff would very soon present a very unlawful picture ou the Sabbath-day. He did not urge this from a Sabbatarian point of view, but on the ground that every man had a right to his one day's rest in seven If he would not respect it voluntarily thoy would make him respect the seventh day, be- cause it was for his benefit. Alderman ELLIOTT felt that they ought not to be taking proceedings against poor widows and old men for breaking the law, when large railway companies were allowed to employ their 60 or 70 men, or even a larger number, every Sabbath- day. Mr CAREY: Could not individuals instigate the proceedings in Sunday trading prosecutions? The Town Clerk: They could. Mr CAREY Then that would relieve the coun- cil of the responsibility. The CHAIRMAN thought as so few were present it would not be wise to ouiae to a decision then, and on his suggestion the subject was adjourned till the next meeting. He did not think that the immorality of the town would be much increased by the few shops now open remaining open a little longer. A charge was preferred by Mr Harrington against P.S. Damm, of the Roath division, for illegal apprehension. He was among a crowd in Castle-road on the 28th June causing, it was alleged, an obstruction. He was conveyed to the police-station, and after being locked up for two hours and a half liberated, the inspector declining to take the charge, which was that of inciting the crowd to resist the police. It appeared that the police-sei-geant was wrong in this, and that he ought to have taken a summons out against Mr Harrington for causing an obstruc- tion. Regret was expressed that a respectable man should have been locked up when ha had not committed any offence, and the police-sergeant admitted that he was wrong; and at the request of the conimittec, he, through the chairman, tendered an apology to Mr Harrington, which was accepted in good spirit, and the matter ended. Mr CAREY called the attention of the head constable to the circumstance that lately disturb- ances had arisen between a few of the Irish and the Welsh, although he was perfectly con- vinced ot the friendly feeling existing between the Irish a.nd Welsh residents of the town generally, and that their good sense would not allow them to commit a breach of the peace. Yet there were in every place a few of the roughs whose action, if not stopped at once, might lead to serious results. This had been the case on one or two occasions, when the collection of a few roughs at particular corners had led to disturbances. He hoped the head-constable would take such precautions as would nip the disturbances in the bud, and pre- vent their swelling until they became a riot. The Head Constable said that he had received numerous letters speaking of disturbances that would certainly take place. He had consulted the Mayor, and had taken every precaution, so that now he was in a position to put an end to any disturbance of the kind at encef. On Saturday evening large numbers of persons began oollecting in various parts, but they were Very good-tem- pered, and when requested to move on, they did so. He did not apprehend amy disturbance, but should any arise he waif prepared to meet itv Mr CABBY thought that a statement going forth fr. m the head constable might have a preventive effect. A letter was read from the Board of Trade directing; the atterftiort of the cewncil te a report they had received from Cardiff that the Steamer Mrfss Rose on Whit Monday left Caflrdift for Weston considerably overladen, and the live's of thfe passengers were in danger. It seemed that she had a oertificate toearry 114 passengers, but according to the information sent to the" Board of Trade she mtfct have had 1-92 on board When she left Cardiff, beside# the drew, Thrf Board of Trade also called- the attention of the cmruoil to the fact that they wars the partite to take the priycesdrnga. Ott the motidn of Mr IX JONES j sKcicmded by Mr JACOBS, thd head constable requested to get up the particulars, and the town- olefrk would take; the proceedings before the magistrates, WiWi reference to the proceedings taken by the late-P.O. Jorie* agjiinst ihe head constable, the trial of wh'ichr though Set down to comte to å1r the' Bristol1 Assizes, the town clerk Was endettvoarihg to get transferred to Cardiff, Mr R. BIRD pro- posed that if the expenses Could not- be paid otit tlie borough fund, they shOuM mdividwally rtsSofve among themselves to pay all costs- mcftrred by" the head constable in defending the Action. This waS: concurred in by ail pwgeenC The proceedings then terminated.

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ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS AT LAVERNOCK.

.A POLICEMAN STABBED ATI :CARDIFF.'

CARDIFF FREE LIBRARY.

CARDIFlTBICYCLE CLUB.

'* SERIOUS FIRE AT CARDIFF.…

------CARDIFF BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

SERIOUS COLLIERY ACCIDENT…

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