The Sun.
London, England, 1866-07-11 00:00:00

Theatrical Licenses and Regulations.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE HOUSE

OP COMMONS.

The following is the full report of the Parliamentary
Committee appointed to inquire into the working of the
acts of Parliament for licensing and regulating theatres and
places of entertainment in Great Britain :
"I. As FAR AS RELATES TO THE METROPOLIS.

"Resolved—That it is the opinion of this committeo :
"1. That the present system of double jurisdiction under
which theatres are licensed by the Lord Chamberlain, and
music-halls and other places of public entertainment by the
magistrates, is inconvenient and unsatisfactory.
"2. That the power of licensing of any house, room,
garden, or any other place kept for public dancing, music,
or other public entertainment of the like kind, hitherto
vested in the magistrates by the act 25 Geo. 11., c. 36, secs.
2 and 3, be transferred to the same authority, which may
be empowered to grant licences to theatres, so that the
entire regulation of theatres, music halls, and other places
of public entertainment be placed under one authority.
"3. That such power of licensing could not be efficiently
exercised by a subordinate authority, and that it is there-
fore desirable that it should be placed in, the hands of an
officer of high position and 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 metropolis.
"5. That it is desirable that any Act of Parliament deal-
ing with the licensing of theatres, music halls, and other
places of entertainment should render compulsory the in-
spection and survey of such places, as regards the stability
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 insuring the safety and
accommodation of the public, which regulations should re-
ceive the sanction of the Secretary of State and be laid
upon the table of the Rouse of Commons.
"6. That, apart from the question whether an identical
form of licence should or should not be given to theatres
and music halls, it is not desirable to continue the exist-
ing restrictions which prevent music halls from giving
theatrical entertainments.

"7. That there be different forms of licences ; one
where intoxicating drinks, refreshments, and tobacco may
be consumed 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 licenses
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 of music halls and
other places of public entertainment.
" 10. That it is desirable that when application is made
for a licence for a theatre, music hall, or other similarplace
of entertaintment, the applicants should bo required to
furnish such security as shall be satisfactory to the licens-
ing authority, not exceeding and satisfactory evi-
dence 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 licence should be
granted without reference to any question of competition
with other establishments.
6611 That the decisions of the Lord Chamberlain should
bo subject to an appeal to the Home Secretary, as far as
the original granting of licences is concerned.
" 12. That the provisions for enforcing the proper work-
ing of the act of 25 Geo. 1.1., 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 empowered
to deal summarily with cases of unlicensed theatrical en-
tertainments.

"13. That it is desirable to repeal the 7th section of the
act of 5 and 6 Wm. IV., c. 39, which empowers the Excise
to grant beer and spirit licences to all buildings licensed by
tho Lord Chamberlain or the justices.