PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE, [COMMUNICATED FROM THE COMMONS TO THE LORDS.] Ordered to be printed 31st July 1866. 263 7374 866 [ i ] Wednesday, 28th February 1866. Ordered, THAT a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the working of the Act of Parliament for Licensing and Regulating Theatres and Places of Public Entertainment in Great Britain, and to report any alterations which may appear desirable. REPORT. THE SELECT COMMITTEE appointed to inquire into the Working of the Acts of Parliament for Licensing and Regulating Theatres and Places of Public Entertainment in Great Britain, and to Report any Alterations which may appear desirable;-HAVE considered the Matters to them referred, and have come to the following RESOLUTIONS, which they have agreed to Report to the House: I. As far as relates to the Metropolis, Resolved THAT it is the opinion of this Committee, 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 other place kept for public dancing, music, or other public entertainment of the like kind," hitherto vested in the magistrates by Act 25 Geo. II. c. 36, sec. 2 & 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 therefore 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 organized 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 dealing with the licensing of theatres, music halls, and other places of entertainment should render compulsory the inspection 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 ensuring the safety and accommodation of the public, which regulations should receive the sanction 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 licence should or should not be given to theatres and music halls, it is not desirable to continue the existing 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 extended to other places of entertainment for which licences may be required. |