SUNDAY CINEMA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 6 August 1931, Page 9

SUNDAY CINEMA

COMMON INFORMER’S CASE

AWARD OF £SOOO DAMAGES

LONDON, 20th July. Miss Millio Orpcn, formerly Miss Millie Opponhoim, was awarded £SOOO , damages in her claim as a “common in- i former” against tho Haymarkct Capitol I Theatre. Her action against the directors was dismissed. Mr Juslico Jiowlatt said tho Court’s duty was simply to enforce tho Act of Parliament, not to be perverso by evading the Act, if no such way out really existed. The defendant company was granted a stay of execution. The Cinematogrnph Exhibitors’ Association points out that tho Sunday Performances Bill, which is now being discussed in Parliament, contains a clause eliminating any damages secured for such an action. Accordingly the caso is an additional reason for the bill to bocomo law as soon as possiblo. It adds that an application is also being made, to the Home Secretary, who has power to remit, the penalty. Penalties amounting to J825.,000 were claimed by Miss Orpen, under tho Lord's Day Observance Act, 1781, in connection with Sunday openings of the cincmu. Her case was that tho Act provided that a house of amusement opened on Sunday for paid admission was a disorderly house, the conductor of which was liable to pay £IOO to anybody suing for the sum. The London County Council bad allowed cinemas to open on Sundays, if part of the proceeds were given to charity, but this was held by the Appeal four* to lie illegal