SUNDAY CINEMA.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20180, 7 March 1931, Page 10

SUNDAY CINEMA.

OPENING ILLEGAL. THE ACT OF 1781. UPBOIt OPS on fOBB*3POWDB!!T.) LONDON, January 29. The Court of "Appeal on Tuesday dismissed the appeal of the London County Council from a decision of the Divisional Court of the King's Bench that the council, in allowing the/ Streatham Aatojia to be opened for cinematograph entertainments on Sundays, was giving ■ permission to do that which was es> presily forbidden by the Sunday. Observance Act,, 1781, which lays down that shall/be no meetings, as\qembiies, or eoiicouipe of people on the Lord's, Day for entertainments, sports, or pastimes whatsoever.'" r,. " ii. Ldrd' Juftice? B<#uffco|ij giving, .judg- ' ttat rajae'd qu?s- ---* tibfis ,of some public' importance. He entirely agreed with the decision of the Divisional Court. "There is an Act still on the Statute Book, unrepealed, ' of 1781, called the Sunday Observance Act," proceeded his lordship, "and the <. main enactment .in that Statute was -that 'any.bouse, room, or other place used for public entertainment or amusement to .wjjhich persons shall be admitted by the<payment of money on the Lord's Day shall be deemed to be a house." But for a very-considerable time; the London County Council had ''adopted, a system .which, looked at in coid blood -now, was vefy difficult to understand,-, ,"They continued Lord Justice Scruttonjf "to the owner ! of, a 'cinematograph theatre a license on! tie terms, that he shall not open /on Sundays. They then, frame a series of ruled" providing . for permission _to open on Sundays, and that is a thing ijrhich'- the. licensees cannot <lp accord- ' ln^' to their - licenses,- and which is illegal according to the Act of 1781. But in making it possible "to open on Sundays tfyb licensee has to. pay. money to charitably institutions, and-; when he, is ready to pay this money the London Gojinty Council' Bays, 'We will not at piesent- prosecute* providing you pay, thitf- money.'"*'l nave decided,'?' con- ' ti4u6d the Jtidge). ".that tho Theatres Committee of the. Council); in dealing in the way.it has'.done with the application for permission to open the cftffimas on Sundays, has been gujitjr-of an illegal act; that i? to piy,' 'it has allowed or given permission for a man to break' the Lord's Day Observance Act, and had dqne so with its eyes opefi, '• In my -view the Council, lab many other important bodies in thip country, must obey the law-as laid down until Parliament - alters it. Neither the London County Council jioV any other such body has t the authority to- dispepse with the performance of'tike, law'as'laid dbwn in the Statute 'Book. Therefore, I think the .appeal should be dismissed with costs." , '/Lord Justices'.Greor and'Slesser concurred. . * The appeal,was dismissed, with costs.' 1 Amending Bill Introduced. An Amending Bill was tabled in the House of Commons yesterday by sfr G. X, Isaacs, the Socialist member for Southwark, and' it would be possible for this measure, granted' the .necessary; facilities, to he passed through all its stages before the wcok-eqd. This new Bill, which would apply to the whole' .country, makes ii lawful "to opdn and use for entertainment or amusement on, the Lord's Day,- any house, room, or place!' to which people are admitted by the payment of money. TWO important' decisions were peached at a meeting yesterday of members of the London and Home Counties branch of the Cinematograph Exhibitors* Association. A resolution carried unanimously was in the following terms: — "That it is the opinion of this meeting Of London licensee? >that until official intimation is received to.close on Sun: days the cinemas shall continue to open as at* present and shall continue their contributions to charities." During the course of the mooting it was stated that the Committee had in. hand efforts which it was .perfectly sure will_ lead to a successful conclusion. , "7