OVERCROWDING.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8688, 14 October 1913, Page 6

OVERCROWDING.

THE' THEATRE ROYAL

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S

DISCUSSION

At. the meeting of ,the Ashburtoiv Borough Council last evening the Inspector (Mr John Bladder) reported that he had attended an anti-militarist meeting at the Theatre &oyal and the hall had been crowded. There had been over .900 people in the building, and one exit had bee-u blocked with ■■ chairs. A boy had acted as caretaker, and he (the\ inspector) had not seen him until the hall had been filled up. The lights had been turned down three or four times, which he had 1 attributed to boys. •

The Mayor said he thought there r had been 1000 people there; ho thought all the devils in h—- had been let loose. It' was disgraceful that the brill should have been locked that night. He hoped that :'tho proprietors of the hall would be prosecuted. (Hear, hear). If anyone had fainted, there would '. have been a 'disastrous panic. There should be someone in charge of: the hall. He moved that the Inspector be instructed to...take- proceedings against the licensee of the hall for allowing it to be overcrowded,arid not having anyone in charge. I

Cr Davison seconded the motion

The Mayor 'saidrthat Cr; Christian had reported on the hall? and he was sure Cr Christian would back, him .up.

Cr Christian said he would back' the Mayor up. but he was 'not; certain if he Would go to the length of summoning the licensee at. present. He was sure the Council had not done its duty by not insisting on the fire 'escapes being placed so as to be effective. Fire escapes were no 4 good without they were-easy of access. • :

The Mayor stated that* he had only asked Cr Christian's support as' a matter of courtesy; he could take proceedings against the licensee if he liked.. , „

Cr Jiefford said that the^ doors were ] locked, which was very serious. ,| The Mayor stated tliat the doors had,, Veen, locked, to keep the people out.!; The Inspector had had them.locked and a man at,each. . ' i

Cr Ferriman remarked tHat if there wns a ci'owd outside and a. crowd jn-, side those inside in case. of a panic, could not get out.

Cr Orr, thought the occasion was an" unusual one and it would be hard on Messrs Hay ward's, Ltd., if the' Council took proceedings against them.- He moved an amendment to the effect that the attention of Hayw'ards bo drawn to the .complaints-. ' . : The Mayor refused . to accept the, amendment, statiTigithat there was a similar njption in Ci" Christian's name on the minute book and;it_ was no. use packing tjie books with.similar motions. Cr;Orr'said .that . Hay wards would have needed a staff of men on that particular night; and because they had not had '.them they were to be made suffer. • •■--.'

The Mayor said Cr Orr was speaking to suit himself. He contended that they should have had a man to watch the exits. . . ■ , ■ • , :

On being put the motion was _ lost,, only three councillors voting for it.

The Mayor remarked that as long as he sat in the chair he would never vote for another prosecution .under the by-laws. . The report was then adopted.