An important judgment, the effect of which is to render street trading in London on Sundays illegal, was delivered by Magistrate Graham Campbell at Bow Street Police Court yesterday. The magistrate held that the Holborn Borough Council was justified in refusing to grant licenses for Sunday trading, but said he would be quite prepared to state a case, and he hoped the matter would be considered by another court.
The facts were not in dispute. A man named George Clifton, who had been granted a license to sell in Little Earl Street, Seven Dials, from Monday to Saturday only, was summoned for trading on Sunday. The case was adjourned to enable him to apply for a Sunday license.
He did so, and his application was refused on the grounds that the Borough Council did not consider Sunday street trading necessary or desirable, and also that it was contrary to the Sunday Observance Act of 1677.
The magistrate said that it was true that the provisions of the Sunday Observance Act were to a large extent disregarded in these days, but it still remained on the statute book, and from time to time convictions were obtained under it.
He added that the matter was a serious one for street traders, many of whom had for many years carried on their calling on Sundays without let or hindrance. He would, therefore, be prepared to state a case. Clifton and three other street traders were each fined 10s. for selling on Sunday without licenses.
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