CHILDREN AT PICTURE THEATRES.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17315, 29 November 1921, Page 10

CHILDREN AT PICTURE THEATRES.

COMPLAINTS INVESTIGATED. The City Council considered further last night the question of better protection of unattended children at picture shows. The By-laws Committee reported that they had investigated recent complaints, end had applied to the Society for the Protection of Women and Children for particulars of the cases reported to it. The Society submitted eleven cases said to have occurred, and particulars were supplied to the manager of each picture theatre. At the request of the oommittee, the managers of the various picture theatres mot the members. Tlio managers stated that as no complaints had been made to them, they could notadmit that the cases submitted had occurred. They agreed to screen notices urging patrons to report immediately any complaints as to misconduct or interference to the manager or ushers in charge. They also promised to exercise close supervision during performances, and, where practicable, to improve the lighting. Cr. H. P. Herbert spoke in support of a proposal by the Society for the Protection of Women and Children to set apart special seats for children. The children whose cases had been investigated by the Society all belonged to respectable people. The Mayor ruled that Cr. Herbert's protest was not Council business. Or. Herbert said the members of the Society bad been dubbed meddjers, but they were anything but that. He did not condemn the picture shows, but it was the duty of the Council to protect the children. i Cr. E. R. McCombs declared ,the comi mittee should have insisted on special Seats being providedfor unattended chil- [ dren. The thanks of the whole community were due to the men and women who had brought the matter before .the Council. Every mother now paused before allowing her children to go to the pictures.

The report of the committee was adopted. ■ ..

Or. McCombs moved thai tho committee should be' asked to take further action in the direction of securing special seats. The Mayor, in reply-to Or. Martin, said lie thoroughly upheld all that the Society had done. Or. C. W. Hervey said he would,be the first one to sit on the picture people if they were doing anything, wrong. Only three complaints altogether had been made to the managers, and-tsle police stated the trouble was ahpo'st unknown.here. Before the matter cjanje before the Council at all the managers should have had opportunity, of heading the complaints. The managers had met tlhe committee quite fairly, £nd were prepared to do anything to remedy the trouble, if such existed. Cr. J. K. Archer said that three ■of the local papers had attacked the Council, and by their leaders had 'directly encouraged those attacks jon children. -

The Mayor.: My experience is that if you are attacked by the newspapers you aji*d doing good work. ; Cr. Archer said the newspapers had encouraged the attacks by. pooh-pooh-ing tho notion that they had happened, or that anything of the sort complained of was ..going on.' Ho was veirjy favourably impressed by the way m which the managers had met the committee and were most anxious thaj; everything possible should be- done to meet the difficulty. They held, howj ever, that the idea of special seats wag impracticable. He was inclined td agree with them that if the other prei cautions were carried out as agreed on; then there was no need for special, seats. '

Or. H. T. Armstrong said there were many places where children ran a greater risk than at the pictures." With all due respect to the Society.'he. considered they we.re lacking in their duty in not bringing the cases promptly before the committee, the.police, and the managers. Or Ji A. Flesher said there was jio necessity at present for taking further action after the arrangement come to between tho committee at>d the nwr.ap&ra. The Council always had jurisdiction over the nicturo theatres, which were licensed buildings,.-and that juris: diction could always be exercised when required. The Society was to bo commended in bringing the matter before the Council in respect of licensed buildings. . > The Mayor said he desired to acknow-. ledge the' snlendid work being carried out by the Society. TVhat the country wanted was more women patrols. Or McCombs's amendment was lost by 17 votes to 3. Crs. Martin, Herbert, a»d McOombs being the three to vote for it. ,