Celluloid dangers with some suggestions : being memoranda compiled in consultation with the committee's executive / by D.W. Wood.

  • Wood, D. W.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Celluloid dangers with some suggestions : being memoranda compiled in consultation with the committee's executive / by D.W. Wood. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Such new legislation should apply to the whole of the coun- try, and it should take the form of an enactment giving certain local authorities powers to grant licences to the owners, or occu- piers, of the premises concerned, subject to regulations issued by (or approved by) the Secretary of State. The system of license, however, need not be applied to: [a] Manufacturers and manipulators of celluloid goods who have less than 224 lbs. of Celluloid on their premises. [b] Dealers in Celluloid goods who have less than 560 lbs. on their premises. [c] Celluloid film dealers or renters having less than 224 lbs. of celluloid film on their premises. And where less quantities than the above are on the pre- mises a system of registration, combined with regulations, would suffice. All premises where not more than 15 lbs. of either Celluloid, manufactured or unmanufactured, are kept should be excluded from all regulations and registration, and the same exemption should apply to premises where less than 15 lbs. of cinematograph films are kept, provided each film is kept in a metal box, such exemptions pre-supposing the marking of Celluloid and regula- tions as to transit. This enactment should provide general powers to make regulations (a) as to the marking and recognition of Celluloid, with a definition as to what materials come within the term Celluloid, (b) as to the manufacture, manipulation and dealing in Celluloid goods or goods of which Celluloid forms a part, including some system of registration, (c) as to the transit of Celluloid in any form, and (d) that these regulations should be administered by the local authority. Regarding the central administration, the enactment being essentially a fire preventive measure, the framing of the regulations appears to be within the scope and province of the Home Office, whose measures on fire preventive subjects enjoy general confidence, whilst for local administration any lesser authority than the County Council (with certain limited rights to delegate their duties) would be undesirable. As it sometimes happens that the local authorities do not always diligently enforce the powers and duties imposed on them by Act of Parliament, a clause should be inserted giving the Secretary of State power to appoint, in case of default, a person to exercise the powers of the Act concurrently with any authority, and at that authority’s expense. It would also be advisable that all places where Celluloid is actually made from nitro-cellulose should be conducted under the Explosives Act, 1875, and failing the immediate application of that Act that there be a specific clause in any new enactment that the Explosives Act be so applied. Regarding the regulations which should be made under a