THEATRE SEATS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19056, 19 July 1927, Page 8

THEATRE SEATS.

BOOKING SYSTEM CRITICISED.

CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION. There was a discussion at last night's meeting of the City Council on the question of the booking system adopted at local theatres. In accordance with notice given, Cr. J. \V. Roberts moved: "That the City Solicitor be asked to state what legal remedy the Council possesses as licensing authority to restrain the amusement houses from exploiting the public by reserving seats, and apportioning a greater or lesser number of seats for the genera] public." Cr. Roberts said that at present, owing to the present system, it was only possible to get a few seats that were not booked, the system leading to the public being exploited. He could understand the position insofar as it concerned travelling companies, which had to face a big expense, but it was a different matter where the permanent theatres were concerned. It had to be remembered that it was the workers who to a very large extent attended the performances. Owing to the newspapers closing their correspondence columns to complaints such as he was referring to, it was necessary for him to bring up the matter at the Council meeting. Cr. G. R. Hunter said that under the by-laws the Council had no chance to alter the position, but in any case he was satisfied that the pioture theatre proprietors experienced a lean time on the whole. They did not force the publio to attend their performances, and they claimed the right to charge what they liked for them. Cr. M. E. Lyons said that shares in picture theatres could be picked up at a discount to-day in Christchurch. If the publio did not desire to attend the picture theatres they had the remedy in their own hands. • Cr. T. H. Butterfield said' that the system adopted by the theatre proprietors was "over the odds." ■

The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) said that the City Solicitor had stated that the Council had no power to interfere. Mr Harry Waters, manager of a picture theatre in Christchureh, had given what was considered a very fair explanation of the position, stating that provision had to be made for a large number of seats that were booked over the telephone and from other sources. High prices had often to be paid for special pictures, and the theatre proprietors had to meet such a position. Cr. Roberts said that it was annoying to come to a theatre expecting to get a seat at a low price and have to pay more for it. Cr. R. M. Macfarlane said that a good deal of the trouble was due to people going to a theatre on a certain night in the week when on other nights there were few people present. The Mayor said that in view of the opinion of the Citv Solicitor in the matter it would serve no good to put the motion to the meeting. _ Cr. Roberts agreed with this view, but stated that he would reserve the right to take further steps if he thought them necessary in the future.