Cinematograph Act 1909
Cinematograph Act, 1909
(9 Edw. 7.) CHAPTER 30.
An Act to make better provision for securing safety at Cinematograph and other Exhibitions.
[25th November 1909]
B E it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
1 Provision against cinematograph exhibition except in licensed premises.
1. An exhibition of pictures or other optical effects by means of a cinematograph, or other similar apparatus, for the purposes of which inflammable films are used, shall not be given unless the regulations made by the Secretary of State for securing safety are complied with, or, save as otherwise expressly provided by this Act, elsewhere than in premises licensed for the purpose in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
2 Provisions as to licences.
(1) A county council may grant licences to such persons as they think fit to use the premises specified in the licence for the purposes aforesaid on such terms and conditions and under such restrictions as, subject to regulations of the Secretary of State, the council may by the respective licences determine.
(2) A licence shall be in force for one year or for such shorter period as the council on the grant of the licence may determine, unless the licence has been previously revoked as herein-after provided.
(3) A county council may transfer any licence granted by them to such other person as they think fit.
(4) An applicant for a licence or transfer of a licence shall give not less than seven days' notice in writing to the county council and to the chief officer of police of the police area in which the premises are situated of his intention to apply for a licence or transfer:
Provided that it shall not be necessary to give any notice where the application is for the renewal of an existing licence held by the applicant for the same premises.
(5) There shall be paid in respect of the grant, renewal, or transfer of a licence such fees as the county council may fix, not exceeding in the case of a grant or renewal for one year one pound, or in the case of a grant or renewal for any less period five shillings for every month for which it is granted or renewed, so however that the aggregate of the fees payable in any year shall not exceed one pound, or, in the case of transfer, five shillings.
(6) For the purposes of this Act, the expressions ‘police area’ and ‘chief officer of police,’ as respects the city of London, mean the city and the Commissioner of City Police, and elsewhere have the same meanings as in the Police Act, 1890.
3 Penalties.
3. If the owner of a cinematograph or other apparatus uses the apparatus, or allows it to be used, or if the occupier of any premises allows those premises to be used, in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the regulations made thereunder, or of the conditions or restrictions upon or subject to which any licence relating to the premises has been granted under this Act, he shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds, and in the case of a continuing offence to a further penalty of five pounds for each day during which the offence continues, and the licence (if any) shall be liable to be revoked by the county council.
4 Power of entry.
4. A constable or any officer appointed for the purpose by a county council may at all reasonable times enter any premises, whether licensed or not, in which he has reason to believe that such an exhibition as aforesaid is being or is about to be given, with a view to seeing whether the provisions of this Act, or any regulations made thereunder, and the conditions of any licence granted under this Act, have been complied with, and, if any person prevents or obstructs the entry of a constable or any officer appointed as aforesaid, he shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds.
5 Power of county councils to delegate.
5. Without prejudice to any...
To continue reading
Request your trial