Gilbert and Sullivan Operas (Copyright)

Petitions – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 23 March 1959.

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Photo of Mr Henry Turner Mr Henry Turner , Oxford 12:00, 23 March 1959

I have the honour to present a Petition signed by half a million people—I could carry only 100,000 copies; the other 400,000 are lodged with the bank—regarding the copyright of the Gilbert parts of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas. The House will appreciate that the Sullivan part expired nine years ago, with disastrous results—"hot" Mikados; and I make no reference to the hon. Member for Reading (Mr. Mikardo), should he be present. The object of the Petition is to preserve what many of us believe to be part of our cultural heritage.

I do this for three reasons: first, that the good lady who organised the Petition is a constituent; second, that I am a grandson of one of the original Savoyards, George Grossmith; and third, that I signed the Petition and am in full agreement with it. Wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray that steps will be taken to perpetuate in some public cultural body the copyrights of the Gilbert and Sullivan operas.And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, will ever pray.

To lie upon the Table.