§ MR. DIXON-HARTLANDasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, Whether, in consideration of the admission of the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, that great risk and danger is incurred by the theatre-going public in the Metropolis, and that the legislation of 1878 has been practically neglected, and in view of the possibility of fire breaking out at any theatre at any moment, which might have as fatal consequences as that at Vienna, he is prepared to bring in a Bill dealing specially with the subject, and, if not, what steps he proposes to take to ensure the safety of the public from fire at theatres? He wished to state that he had received a letter from the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works, in which he stated that the word "admission" used in his Question was not justified by the answer given to his Question, and that he did not mean to imply what was imputed to him.
§ SIR JAMES M'GAREL-HOGGI do not think that the explanation of the hon. Member goes far enough. I state most distinctly that I made no admission whatever that the theatres in the 783 Metropolis were in a dangerous state, and I never intended that anybody in this House or out of it should take that from me. I also say that I never made any admission that the legislation of 1878 had been practically neglected, for it has not been neglected.
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTSir, in answer to my hon. Friend, I understand his Question to be this. In 1878 a Statute was passed giving powers with reference to this matter, which, as I believe, are adequate powers. These powers were vested in the Metropolitan Board of Works, and this matter has been called to their notice. I understand the Chairman of the Board to state that these powers are being put into operation now. Under those circumstances, it does not seem to me to be advisable to pass another Act. That Act would take time to pass, and some new machinery would have to be created. In the meantime the operation of the machinery now in operation would be suspended, there now being adequate powers for doing what is required. I think, therefore, that, upon the whole, we had better leave the matter in the hands of the Metropolitan Board of Works, which unquestionably has power to do what the hon. Member desires.
§ MR. MACFARLANEwished to know why, if the Act had been in operation since 1878, the appointment of an Inspector under the Act only took place last month, and why the Metropolitan Board of Works had been lying upon its oars for four years?
§ SIR WILLIAM HARCOURTI am afraid I cannot answer that Question. I do not know that they have lain upon their oars all that time.
§ MR. DIXON-HARTLANDI understood the Chairman of the Metropolitan Board of Works to state that his powers with regard to old theatres were very small indeed.