COPING WITH THE CROWDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 127, 29 May 1914, Page 9

COPING WITH THE CROWDS.

IS TOWN HAIX OVERLOOKED 7 THEATRE MANAGERS .AND TRAFFIC INSPECTOR.

A compia-int that theatre managers were summoned for overcrowding, wliiie no notice wa.~> taken of the excessive tilling of tbe Town flail formed the j kernel of a. letter, which wafi officially received by the City Council last night from .Mr. -Jotm Fuller, -i.'ross and dangeroiks overcrowding." was the charge made acrainst the municipal authorities ir. resrievt of the Town Hall. The writer allegt-d that in August last at least 700 J were at a. professional boxing conte&t. while on more recent occasions the ha.ll had been crowded to the point of sulFoc-ation. He suggested that a little latitude should be allowed theatre, managers in respect of a few persona being allowed to stand on special occasions, ac was done in Wellington, Dunedin, and all Australian cities. A report bearing on the complaint was furnished by the hallke.eper (Mr. |Jas. It stated that while a (greater number than 700 people were j Standing at the boxing contest to which Mr. Fuller had referred, th-ere. v, ere ji-ej.ti for all. The men stood because t>ey could ccc better than by remaining in their seats. There waa certainly no I overcrowding. Referring to complaints 'concerning recent meetings addressed by J Sir .10.-eph Waxd and the Hon. ilr. Maeeey, the hallkreper wrote: — ""We did all that was possible to keep within tiie by-law, but a? there aro five large doors easily opened in Grey Street from the inside, it js vpry difficult to stop thore in eharpe. admit ting people. In fact, at Mr. jtassey'* meeting the committee more than haltI filled the hall before the advertised time of opening. When we did open the front door.-- the crowd rushed in, and even with the assistance of all the polir-p available, the hall was crowded before we could get the doors closed. , ' Regarding a complaint of overcrowding on the occasion of the recent Bible in schools meeting, the hallkeeper said that those concerned did their b"st to kepp the people who had been in the concert hall from crowding into the larger hall, but to no avail. "Then, , he added. "Mr. FuUer arrived." I In conclusion, the hallkee.per submitted that the Town Hall was not on the same level other places of public amusement. There was certainly no theatre or hall that could be so .ftiic.kly and easily empffed. He thought latitude might be. allowed at political meetings and like gathering:-. The Deputy Mayor suggested that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee. r. R. Tudehope expressed regret that some remarks which he. had made at the last meeting of the Oaime.il had caused the impression that the traUie inspector had been taking notice of theatres, -while allowing tne Town Hall to escape his notice. It was certainly his duty to inspect the Town Hall, and he (the speaker) thought that if this were made clear the difficulty would be got over. Mr. Pl. T. Michaels supported the proposal, remarking that what -,vas i "sauce for the gncn-r was sauce for I the gander." The Council had no right Jto make by-laws if they were not prepared to adhere to them, j Mr. -I. M. Mennie did not sec the necessity for referring the matter to I committee. He moved that Mr. Fuller jbe informed that the matter was receiving attention. Mr. ft. Knight seconded the motion. which was earned. The Deputy Mayor: How about re . ferring the matter in a. general way for I ronsideration by committee, not only | . to deal with the Town Hall, but wiln . other hall- as well , .' Mr. A. J. JCntricHi): J quite agree, that it should go to the Finance Committee. It is a question of by-la we. Mr. Tudehope: We already hay« t>vlaws. Mr. Fntncan: A question of administration is concerned, as to whether oui officers are doing their duty. The Council eventually resolved that the matter be referred to the Fiiiance Committee in the ivay puggejted by tb« Deputy Mayor.