PICTURE SHOWS.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 250, 21 October 1919, Page 10

PICTURE SHOWS.

RESTRICTION ON HOURS REPEALED. IvOCAL AUTHORITY CONTROL FORECASTED. (By Telegraph—Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, Monday. When the Public. Health Amendment Bill was in committee to-night, a sharp division of opinion was voiced on a pro- ■, posal to repeal the clause issued laet year dossing picture theatres in the morning t and between the hours of five and seven ill the evening. Mr. Pcaree opened the discussion with an emphatic expression of opinion that J the present law should stand in the interest of public health. ' The Prime Minister, who was in chaTge of tlie bill, pointed out that a local authority had power under the bill ti> c make and enforce by-laws regulating in . regard to the times of picture shows, and ' if a local authority failci , . to enforce its l by-law the District Health Officer had power to do so, and charge any costs in- . curred to the local authority. ' Mr. Witty agreed also that the bill fulfilled requirements respecting picture shows, but Mr. Vernon Reed contended that the local authority would not have power to close picture theatres unless it could be proved that the ventilation was , insufficient. The result would be that picture shows would open at ten in the 1 morning and remain open continuously. . He considered last year's clause should : be retained. ' , Dr. Newman expressed the opinion that in Auckland and other large centres the modern picture theatres had a most up-to-date method of ventilation, and it : wa*. quite- unnecessary to close them. j This view was supported by Mr. C. J. • Parr, who said that picture theatres in ' Auckland were so constructed ac to , have practically perfect ventilation, which was on a scientific basis. Another reason for the wiping out of the five to seven o'clock limitation was that, tinder the existing system, the homeward rush of workers at live o'clock was hampered by the emptying of picture shows at the , I same hour, which he contended was the . cause of quite unnecessary congestion. Mr. I'earce: To knock this clause out is just in the interests of picture show proI prietor*. and to do this you are sacrificing precautions for the health of the com- ' munitr. -Mr. Peter Fraser declared that experience had shown that the closing of pic- ' ture theatres did not work out as was intended. ' He particularly objected to tlie closing of theatres between the iiours of live and seven o'clock, because ■ou stormy nights queues of people stood outside theatres, running far bigger risk jof sickness than if people, were sitting , inside the theatre. Personally, he was | not concerned about reducing the number of shows, but at night time there should be more relaxation of the present la w. Mr. Luke suggested giving local authorities power to prescribe the hours of picture theatres. Mr. Mossey stated that this would involve an amendment of the Municipal Corporations Act. If it was relevant to the bill he would have accepted it and he would include it in any amendment of the Municipal Corporations Act. The clause repealing the limitation of picture show hours was adopted.