London, Dec. 2.
"Te it a fact," asked Mr. Lynch in the Hoase of Commons on Thureday, "that in the department authorized to piss stage-plays there existe a tendency to repress all developments of a higher character—a sort of pachydermatous ignorance and inspissated Pharisaism Before an answer could be given the Speaker interposed with the remark that Mr. Lytch appeared to be making speech and no reply was offered.
Last night, however, Mr. Robert Harcoart had an opportunity of Mr. Charles Brookfield as Assistant Reade: It had already been explained in House in answer to interrogation, that the appointment had beea made by Spencer, the Lord Chamberlain, on bie own initiative, and without any con-saltation with the Goverment; and all that Mr. MeKenna, the Home Seoretary, could eay in reply to Mr. Harcourt Inet:.[oight was that inasmuch as Mr. Brookfield bad no technics! defender la the House, members would be well adviced to suspend judgement until his side of the question had been heard.
The objection to Mr. Brookfield's appointment which is urged is not merely that be is himself the sator of one of the that have been seen on the stage recent years, but that he is a pronounced at art which deals with problems seriously. In his article in the current namber of the "National Review" there is the following pxsssge which was read by Mr. Harcourt in the course of the debate Inst night. think the influence of the theatre for good or for evil is much over-rated. But Foung man could be harmed by soding ly. I think it would more probably be bya tombre disecitation on the right of 8 wife to desert a degenerate husband, or o: e of the many kindred subjects so dear to the new dramatist, than by the frivolcas ber. es que of ill-assorted marriages euch arose finds in the old French vaudevilles."
Te is admitted that although Mr. Redford and his new assistant are only "readers" of plays and the Lord Chamberlain is the actual censor, yet the Lord Chamberlain only reads such plays, or passages from plays, as are brought to hi notice by the readers as is safe.
Me. Brookfield my write an improper play and then pass it, is rathe ed, It is to be noted that the dramatists and especi vanced "modern" dram angered by the appointment, theatre managers are quite satisfied, there is more money in from the French, Dear Old Ohi ley," than in "sombre" problem plays.
The Government can hold oat 00 hope of legislation next session founded apon the report of the Censorsbip Committee which rat some two years ago unless it wore to be carried by agreement. That is not likely since the opponents of the present system are divided in opinion, some desiring to abolish the censorship altogether aod others merely to reform it.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.