The Express.
London, England, 1866-07-10 00:00:00

THEATRICAL LICENSES AND REGULATIONS.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE

OF COMMONS.

The following le the full report of the parlia-
mentary eommittee appointed to inquire into the working
of tie acts of parliament for licensing and regulating
theatres and places of entertainment in Great Britain:
" I. AS PAR Ab RELATIFS TO PHI METROPOLIS.

Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committee:
" 1. That the present sgstem of double jurisdiction
under which theatres are licensed by the Lad Chamber-
lain, and music-halls and ether places of public enter-
tainment by the magistrates, is inconvenient end unmet*
factory.

" 2. That the power of licensing of any house, room,
garden, or any other place kept for public dancing, Zatia,4
or other public entertainment of the like kind, hitherto
vested in the magistrates by the act 26 (leo. 11., c. 36,
sec. 2 and 3, be transferred to the same authority, which
may be empowered to grant lionises to theatre., so that
the entire regulation of theatres, music halls, and fathom
places of public entertainment be placed under one
authority.

" 3. That each power of licensing could not be (Alain*
exercised by a subordinate ►utbority, and that it is there.
fore desirable that it should be placed in the hands of an
officer of high position sad dignity.
" 4. That it is desirable that the department of the Lord
Chamberlain be so organised as to be able to deal with
all such places of public entertainment within the me-
tropolis.

"15. That it is desirable that any act of parliament aid.
lag with the hemming of theatres, music halls, and °thee
places of entertainment, should render campulsory the
inspection and survey of such places, as regards the sta.
bility of structure, due security against fire, ventilation,
and facility of ingress and egress ; and that the authority
to whom the licensing may be entrusted, be required to
frame regulations from time to time for ensuring the
safety and accommodation of the public, which regule-
tions should receive the satiation of the Secretary of State
and be laid upon the table of the House of Commons.
" 6. That, apart from the question whether an identical
form of license should or should not be given to theatre.
sod mule halls, it is not desirable to contuse the existing
restrictions which prevent music balls from giving theatri-
cal entertainmenta.

" 7. That there be different forms of licenses ; one where
intoxicating drinks, refreshments, and tobacco may be con-
sumed in the auditorium of the building, the second where
intoxicating drinks, refreshments, and tobacco may not be
so consumed.

" 8. That the control which the Lord-Chamberlain now
exercises over the performances in theatres, should be ex-
tended to other places of entertainment for which Heronries
may be required.
" 9. That the censorship of plays has worked satisfac-
torily, and that it is not desirable that it should be discon-
tinued. On the contrary, that it should be extended as
far as practicable to the performances in music halls and
other places of public entertainment.
" 10. That it u desirable that when application is made
for a license for a theatre, music hall, or other similar
place of entertainment, the applicants should be required
to furnish such security as chill be satisfactory to the
licensing authority, not exceeding /., and satisfactory
evidence as to their respectability, as to the fitness of the
building for the purposes for which it is intended, and as
to the convenience of the site ; and that in the event of
such evidence being satisfactory, the license should be
granted without reference to any question of competition
with other establishments.
" 11. That the decisions of the Lord Chamberlain should
be subject to an appeal to the Home Secretary, as far as
the original granting of licenses is concerned.
" 12. That the proviiiiine for enforcing the proper work-
ing of the act of 26 (;surge 11.,c. 36, relative to the licensing
of music halls, are insufficient and unsatisfactory, as
there is no legal authority under which the police can
take direct proceedings against unlicensed houses, in which
music and dancing are going on, although they are em-
powered to deal summarily with cases of unlicensed thea-
trical entertainments.

" 13. That it is desirable to repeal the 7th section of the
act of 5 and 6 Will. IV., c. which empowers the Excise
to grant beer and sphitlicences to all buildings licensed
by the Lord Chamberlain or the justices.