§ MR. HOGANI beg to ask the hon. Member for Thirsk, as a Charity Commissioner, whether he is aware that a considerable portion of the Covent Garden Theatrical Fund has accrued from the contributions of the charitable public in bygone years; and, whether that fact will bring the fund and its proper management within the official purview of the Charity Commissioners?
MR. GRANT LAWSON (York, N.R., Thirsk)All the information which the Charity Commissioners possess as to this Fund is derived from the Act of 12 696 Geo. III., mentioned in the answer to the Question previously put. The Commissioners are not aware that a considerable portion of the Fund is derived from contributions as stated in the Question. But as the Act already mentioned deals with the fund as a benefit society it does not appear that the presence of these contributions would operate to remove the exemption from the jurisdiction of the Commissioners accorded to benefit societies.