§ MR. MACFARLANEasked the Secretary of State -for the Home Department, If his attention has been called to the destruction by fire of the Gaiety Theatre, Manchester; if it is a fact that—
The building consisted entirely of a woodwork frame covered with a roof of tarred canvas;and, if he can state by whom such a description of building was licensed as a place of public entertainment?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURT, in reply, said, what the hon. Member stated in the Question was correct. The building had been duly licensed by the Justices as a music-hall, who satisfied themselves that the means of exit were sufficient. As regarded the control of these buildings, he was informed that the Corporation of Manchester had a Bill before Parliament last year in which there was a very good clause giving them power to call on the proprietors to secure the safety of this class of building. The Select Committee before whom the Bill went struck out that clause; and, therefore, the Corporation were not responsible for what had occurred.