Hawkers

Hawkers. Hawkers and pedlars are persons who carry their goods from place to place for inspection and sale. A licence duty is imposed upon them by the statute 50 Geo. III. c. 41, which also contains various provisions affecting their trade. After numerous amending acts the "Consolidated Hawkers Act, 1888," now regulates the business of hawkers, defining for the purposes of such Act a hawker as a person who travels about with a horse or other beast bearing or drawing burden. "The Pedlars Act, 1871," regulates the business of pedlars, a pedlar being therein defined as a person travelling about without a horse, dc. Pedlars are subject to control of the police, and are exempt from excise duty. By the Pedlars Act anyone over seventeen years of age, having resided a month in the district and being of good character, can obtain a yearly certificate on payment of a fee of 5s., and is thereupon entitled to exercise such calling in any part of the kingdom. Pedlars have an appeal from the police to the justices of the peace of the district. A hawker's licence costs £2 per annum, and it is granted like a pedlar's licence.

He cannot sell spirits, but he may sell tea and coffee. If he deals in plate he must have a plate licence. Those selling goods in fairs or markets legally established do not require any licence.