31 JANUARY 1931, Page 3

Lord Justice Scrutton has decided against the appeal of the

London County Council. He ruled that the Council could not grant a dispensation for the Sunday opening of cinemas on conditions invented by itself. A law which was in existence could not be ignored merely because most people regarded it as obsolete. It will be interesting to see what will happen next. The multitude who have tasted cinemas on Sunday will not want to discontinue the meal. The position must somehow be regularized. We hope that there will be a common-sense solution which will not ban cinemas on Sunday, but will prevent Sunday from becoming like other days. Sunday does not need to be defended on merely religious grounds. A brief Bill might be passed through Parliament as soon as possible—but "as soon as possible" might not be so soon as some people think. Meanwhile most proprietors of cinemas will apparently go on with Sunday performances, awaiting a prosecution which may never come.

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