Street Arabism, its Cause and Cure' pamphlet

File contains a pamphlet written by one of the Refuge's co-founders, Leonard K Shaw in 1880. This highlighted Shaw's stand against juvenile street hawking where young children would take to the streets at all hours of the night to gain money, often for drunken, vicious or careless parents. These children had prompted Shaw to initiate an investigation into street hawking in 1878 with the results being sent to the House of Commons Select Committee. This had the aim of preventing children under the age of ten from participating in street hawking and limiting the number of hours of children working between the ages of ten and fourteen. Opposition from members of the House of Commons however, meant that it was not until 1889, in the 'Prevention of Cruelty to Children Act', that the employment in the street of children was forbidden in statute. Shaw and the Committee's work had much to do with the passing of this legislation.