THE NEW BY LAWS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13161, 7 July 1908, Page 8

THE NEW BY LAWS.

The City Council at its meeting last night adopted a number of new bylaws dealing with a variety of subjects. Prominent among them are regulations regarding theatres and concert halls, which it is probably safe to 6ay will receive greater attention from the general public than is usually accorded' to by-laws. With the broad principle, of so regulating the nirmber of persons admitted to a theatre or concert hall as to ensure that thero shall be no overcrowding and that lessees and managers shall not sell admission tickets to more persons than can secure seats, we are in complete agreement. Tbe Christchurch public has at different times suffered sufficiently from the cupidity of theatrical managers to make some such regulation highly desirable. But we are not sure that tho new bylaw does not go a little too fa # r— whether, indeed, it is either quite reasonable or workable. Tho safety of the public attending plays or concerts is already one of tho responsibilities of the city inspectors, who can, and do, check excessive overcrowding. The existing regulations do not, however, demand that every person who goes to the theatre must havo a seat; a certain amount of latitude is allowed as regards the admission of peoplo for whom there is standing-room only, and so long as.the alley-ways aro kept clear we cannot see that objection need bo taken to the presence of a limited number of people standing up at the back of the seats. They would certainly constitute no danger to the othei- in case of fire, since they would naturally be tho first to get out. Wo see no reason why every ra>at m the theatres and principal halls should not be numbered, and people enabled to buy tickets for those seats just as they now do for the stalls or the dress circle, especially as such an a_-rangement would do away with the extra fee for the early door, and would render unnecessary, to a very larg© degree, the prolonged waiting in the cokl street which patrons of the cheaper parts of tho theatres have now to undergo if they wish to obtain good seats. But in the case of the cheaper entertainments, the regulation strikes one as liable to cause unnecessary expense to leasees, and possible inconvenience to the public, while in thecase of circuses, which wo presume would come within its scope, wo frankly do not see how it can l>o applied at all. The by-law, however, has not to be confirmed for a month, and in the interval the evidence of experts may show tho Council the wisdom of somewhat modifying its provisions.

Another important by-law is that relating to buildings. It will be soen that this goes a good way to compel

the observance of precautions against the spread of fire, such as were shown so conclusively some months ago to be absolutely necessary. Internal walls or partitions and ceilings constructed wholly or in part of wood must be covered with metal or plaster laid on metal laths; no inflammable material may be used as a lining for internal walls or partitions; all skylights and windows must, under certain conditions, be glazed with wired glass, or covered with wire gauze; roofs must bo made of non-combustible material: and J no building with walls of any inflam- j mable material may be used hereafter j as an hotel, lodging-house, or public j building. The extension of the "inner area," it may be noted, will bring : under the restrictions of tho by-law a . large additional area, of the city, ex- I tending into Sydenham. Among the other by-laws will be noted now trafSc regulations, which should help to keep the streets free from congestion, and the by-law regarding street musicians will tend to diminish a growing '-, nuisance. j