§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the Prime Minister whether the appointment by the Lord Chamberlain of Mr. Charles Brookfield as Assistant Examiner of Plays was made after consultation with His Majesty's Government; and whether, inter alia, in view of the character of the evidence given before the Joint Committee as to Mr. Brookfield's own plays, he will, pending legislation, see that this appointment is cancelled?
§ Sir GODFREY BARINGasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what considerations have actuated the Lord Chamberlain in appointing Mr. Charles Brookfield to the post of Joint Examiner of Plays; and what salary it is proposed to attach to this new office?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)The Prime Minister has asked me to answer this question, and I will reply at the same time to the question (No. 60 on the Paper) standing in the name of the hon. Member for Barnstaple. Mr. Brookfield was appointed Joint Examiner of Plays by the Lord Chamberlain in the ordinary exercise of his powers without consultation with His Majesty's Government. The amount of Mr. Brookfield's remuneration is determined by the Lord Chamberlain, and is paid partly out of the Civil List and partly out of fees. The Lord Chamberlain has been good enough to communicate to me that the considerations which moved him in making the appointment were the special qualifications which fin his judgment Mr. Brookfield possesses, by training and experience, to execute the duties of the post. In view of the erroneous statements that have been made in connection with the appointment, it is right for me to point out that the Examiners of Plays are not censors, but that the duty of censorship is imposed by Statute on the Lord Chamberlain himself, who has recently acted upon the advice of an advisory board. The functions of the examiners are confined to the reading of plays and reporting to the Lord Chamberlain any matters about which there can be any doubt. The Lord Chamberlain further advises me that he is aware of the evidence given before the Select Committee of 1909 as to one of Mr. Brookfield's 581 own plays, but that in his judgment this evidence raises no presumption that Mr. Brookfield is disqualified for the efficient performance of his duties.
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTMay I ask whether it is not the case that the examiners of plays do not pass plays at their uncontrolled discretion without reference to the Lord Chamberlain?
§ Mr. McKENNAI assume any play which was not reported upon by the Examiners would, in the ordinary course, be passed by the Lord Chamberlain, but the Lord Chamberlain would still reserve his right to veto any play himself.
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTArising out of that answer, may I ask whether the Lord Chamberlain does, in fact, read such plays, or whether it would not be the case that any play submitted by Mr. Brookfield, as author, would be passed by Mr. Brookfield, as Examiner, and then performed?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, I imagine if Mr. Brookfield were himself to write a play and submit it to the Censor, the Lord Chamberlain himself would read that play with great profit and amusement.
§ Mr. CLYNESCan the right hon. Gentleman state what are the uses of this office in view of the plays that do find their way on to the stage?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is rather an argumentative question.
§ Mr. BECKETTHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to an article by Mr. Brookfield in this month's "National Review," and, if so, whether the views expressed therein may be taken to be identical with those of the Lord Chamberlain?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, my attention has been called to the article. I am not aware whether the Lord Chamberlain has read the article or not.
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTI beg to give notice, if I am not precluded by the hon. Member for Warrington (Mr. Harold Smith), that I shall call attention to the subject on the rising of the House.
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked how many members of the Advisory Committee on stage plays appointed by the Lord Chamberlain have since resigned; and, if so, whether they have been replaced, and, if so, by whom?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. One member of the Advisory Board has resigned since its formation, and he has not been replaced.
§ Mr. R. HARCOURTIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to give the name?
§ Mr. McKENNANo, Sir.
§ Mr. LYNCHasked the Home Secretary what steps have been taken to give effect to the recommendations of the special committee which sat to consider the state of the drama in this country; and whether means exist within his power of checking the alleged tendency to the encouragement of plays of a low intellectual and moral character at the expense of drama opening up new vistas of thought in social, political, and ethical matters?
§ Mr. McKENNAAn Advisory Board has been appointed to assist the Lord Chamberlain in dealing with the licensing of plays. Steps have not been taken to give effect to the recommendations of the Joint Committee as regards licensing. The Secretary of State has himself no powers in the matter. The Lord Chamberlain has been entrusted by Statute with the duty of dealing with this subject, and he possesses adequate means of checking the production of any undesirable plays. The principles upon which this power is exercised were explained to the recent Joint Committee; while they involve the rejection of immoral plays they do not aim at the exclusion of novelty of idea or treatment.
§ Mr. LYNCHIs the right hon. Gentle man aware that the existing tendency in this Department is to repress the development of the higher forms of art by a system of pachydermatous ignorance and inspissated Pharisaism——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member is now making a speech.