§ MR. LOCKEthen rose to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend the law relating to Theatres and other places of public amusement. The hon. Gentleman said he did not intend to make any lengthened statement upon that occasion. But he would inform the House that the Bill was to meet a state of things which had created great danger and alarm among Her Majesty's subjects. In many of the theatres there was no mode of egress in the event of fire, and one of the objects of the Bill was to correct that evil, and to place the buildings, which were used as theatres and other places of public amusement, on a proper footing in that respect. Another object of the measure was to settle a question which had arisen between theatres and music halls. He believed there would be no objection to the introduction of the Bill.
MR THOMAS BARINGsaid, he did not rise to object to the introduction of the Bill. He thought there was no reason for supposing that in the theatres licensed by the Lord Chamberlain in the metropolis, sufficient precautions were not taken for the safe egress of the public. He wished to state that, so far as he was acquainted with the theatres of this metropolis, the Lord Chamberlain, with whom the licensing of those buildings rested, had taken every precaution on behalf of the public for providing adequate means of egress, and that there was no ground whatever for complaint on that subject. When the Bill was printed the House would be better able to judge of the proposal made in the other portion of it for the settlement of the question between theatres and music halls. He hoped the hon. Gentleman would not fix an early day for the second reading of the measure, as it was desirable that ample opportunity should be afforded for considering its provisions.
§ Motion agreed to.
§ Bill to amend the Law relating to Theatres and other places of public amusement, ordered to be brought in by Mr. LOCKE, Mr. AYRTON, and Mr. DENMAN.
§ Bill presented, and read 1°. [Bill 64.]