Kinematograph year book (1944)

112 The Kinematograph Year Book. Theatre and Music and Dancing Licences may also be necessary. Theatre Licences for Stage Plays are obtained from the Lord Chamberlain in London, and from the justices elsewhere. Music and Dancing Licences, are granted by the County and County Borough Councils, who can delegate this power to the local justices. Music and Dancing Licences in London are governed by the Music Hall Act, 1751. In Middlesex by the Music and Dancing Middlesex Act, 1894. In other areas beyond 20 miles from the Cities of London and Westminster under the Public Health Acts (Amendment Act), 1890, Sec. 4. Music Licences are renewable only once each year. They may contain conditions (in view of the section of the Public Health Act) different to the conditions of a kinematograph licence, as that act does not apply to Music and Dancing Licences. A Music and Dancing Licence does not authorise stage plays, nor does a Theatre Licence, under the Theatre Act, 1843, include Music and Dancing. CHILDREN. Where an entertainment is given for children [i.e., under fourteen), or the majority of persons present are children, and their number exceeds one hundred, and access to any part of the building is by stairs, then it is the duty of the occupier (if he is paid) and of the person giving the entertainment (in any case) to see that an adequate number of adult attendants are present to prevent overcrowding in any part, to control the movements of the audience when entering and leaving, and also to take all reasonable precautions for safety. Police officers have the right of entry. The penalty for a first offence is up to £50, for a second or subsequent offence up to £100, and any licence held in respect of the building may be revoked (Children Act, 1908, s. 121). The kinematograph licence is not mentioned, as it had not come into existence at that date. The Employment of Children Act, 1903, s. 1, enables local authorities to make bye-laws relating to the employment of children {i.e., under fourteen), and many of them have exercised this power. A licensee should enquire at the council offices whether the local authority of his district has made any bye-law affecting him {e.g., as to programme, sweet, or cigarette sellers, etc.) No child (under sixteen) employed half time in a factory or workshop may be employed elsewhere (Act 1903, s. 3 (3)), nor may any child be employed before six a.m. or after nine p.m., unless the local bye-laws allow it (Act 1903, s. 3 (1)). The fine is up to 40s. for a first offence, and £5 afterwards (Act 1903, s.5 (1)). Under the Children and Young Persons Act, 1933, where there is provided in any building an entertainment for children or an entertainment at which the majority of the persons attending are children, then, if the number of children attending the entertainment exceeds one hundred the person providing the entertainment must station and keep stationed wherever necessary a sufficient number of adult attendants, properly instructed as to their duties, to prevent more children or other persons being admitted to the building, and to control the movement of the children and other persons admitted while entering and leaving the building or any part thereof, and to take all other reasonable precautions for the safety of the children. Under Section 4 of this Act a constable may enter the building at any time with a view to seeing whether the provisions of the Act are being properly carried out. By the Royal assent having been given to the Shops Hours of Closing Act, 1928, patrons can buy tobacco, matches, table waters, sweets, chocolates or other sugar confectionery or ice-cream at any time during performances in any Theatre, Kinema, Music Hall or other similar place of entertainment so long as the sale is to bona-fide members of the audience and not on a part of the building to which other members of the public have access. This does away with the ban put upon Kinemas by D.O.R.A. some years ago.