THE CENSORSHIP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1335, 12 January 1912, Page 9

THE CENSORSHIP.

$ MR. BROOKFIELD'S APPOINTMENT. Tho appointment of Mr. Charles Brookfield as Assistant Examiner of Plays was the subject of several questions in the House ol Commons on November DO. Mr. Robert Harcourt (L., Montrose Burghs) asiced whether the appointment by tlio Lord Chamberlain of Sir. Charles Broukneld us Assistant Examiner of Plays was made alter consultation with tho Government, and whether, in view, inter alia, of the character of the evidence given before tho Joint Committee as to Mr. Brooklielcl's, own plays, tho Government would, pending legislation, see that tho appointment was cancelled. Sir Godfrey Baring (L., Barnstaple) asked what consideration had actuated the Lord Chamberlain in making tho appointment, and what salary it was proposed to attach to tho ollicc. Mr. M'Kenna (Home Secretary'): Mr. Brookficld was appointed Joint Examiner ol Plays by tho Lord Chamlx-rUiin in the ordiuary exercise of his powers without consultation with His Majesty's Government. The amount of Mr. Brookficld'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 tho considerations which moved him in making the appointment wero tho special qualifications—(laughter)—which, in his judgment, Mr. Brookficld possesses by training and experience to "execute tho duties of (he 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. Examiner of Plays are not Censors, but that the duty of Censorship is imposed by statute on the Lnrd Chamberlain himself, who has recently ncted upnn the advice of an Advisory' Board. The functions of tho examiners are confined to the reading of plays and reporting to the Lord Chamberlain any matters about which there can b" onv d-;nbt. Th» T.-.rd Chamberlain further advises mo ho is aware of the evidence given lyforc t''o Select Committee of 190!) as to one of Mr. Brook-field's own plavs, but that, in his judgment, this raises no prrviimntion tW Mr. Broc\-Jip!i) is disqualified for the efficient performance of his duties. (Laughter.) Mr. Harcourt: Would it not he tho ca.se that any play submitted by Mr. Brool;fir-hl as author would he passed byMr. Br.-sokfiflld as examiner and then performed? Mr. sr'h>nna: No. I imagine that if Mr. Brcokfield himself wero to write n olay and submit it to tho Censor, the L"rd Chamberlain would read that play with great profit and amusement. (Laughter.) Mr. Lynch (N., West Clare) asked what steps had been taken to give effect to the recommendations of the Joint Committee, and whether means existed within tho power of the Home Secretary to check the alleged tendency to tho 'encouragement of plays of low, intellectual and moral characte at the expense of drama opening up new vistas of thought in social political and ethical matters. Mr. M'Kenna: An Advisory Board has wen appointed to assist the "Lord Cham- ■ borlam in dealing with tho licensing of plays. Steps havo not been taken to give effect to the recommendations of the Joint Committee as regards licensing. The Lord Chamberlain has been entrusted by statute with the duty of dealing with this subject, and he" possesses adequate means of cheeking tho production of nny undesirable plavs. The principles upon which this pWer is exercised were explained to the recent Joint Committee. While thev involve tho rejection of immoral plays, they do not aim at the exclusion of novelty of idea or treatment. Mr. Lynch: Is it not a fact (hat there exists a tendency to repress all developments of the higher drama—a sort of system of pachydermatous ignorance and inspissated Pharisaism The Speaker: As far as I can heer, that seems to be a speech. (Laughter.)