§ MR. DIXON-HARTLANDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, after the recent five at the Alhambra Theatre, which spread so rapidly that it must have been most disastrous to the public had it happened during the performance, he is now prepared to lay Captain Shaw's Report about Theatres upon the Table of the House; and, if not, whether he will now bring in, or facilitate the bringing in, of a measure which shall give additional safety to the theatre-going public?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI have before stated to the hon. Member the reason why Captain Shaw's Report cannot be laid on the Table of the House, and I have now no reason to alter that opinion. With reference to what has been done, the Metropolitan Board is taking active measures with reference to Metropolitan theatres, and, as far as I am able to judge, in a satisfactory manner. With regard to the final Question mentioned at the end, in my opinion that is a matter eminently for the municipal and local authorities, and any proposal 298 of that character should be vested in the local authorities—to whom it belongs—and not in Her Majesty's Government.
§ MR. DIXON-HARTLAND,in consequence of the answer of the Home Secretary, gave Notice that, in view of the great danger which still exists to the theatre-going public from the inefficiency of the powers under existing Acts, and the laxity with which such powers are exercised, a Select Committee be appointed to investigate what steps should be taken to put this important subject on a proper footing, and that their attention should be especially called to the Report of the Select Committee of 1866, over which the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Ripon (Mr. Goschen) presided.