FIREMEN IN CITY THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21806, 11 June 1936, Page 9

FIREMEN IN CITY THEATRES

ANSWER TO CRITICISM BY BOARD NEW .SYSTEM CLAIMED TO BE AN IMPROVEMENT “The theatre proprietors are just as concerned over the safety of the public as the Fire Brigade, and the present system is definitely an improvement on the old,” said Mr Alfred Bidgood to “The Press” yesterday, in replying for the proprietors of the picture theatres of the city, to complaints by the Christchurch Fire Board about the conduct by the theatres of the scheme by which they employ their own firemen. The Fire Board, upon a report from the superintendent, decided at its last meeting to warn theatre managers that unless the spirit of the arrangement were honoured, it would have seriously to consider reverting to the old system, which ceased in June last year.

A comparison between the two sys~ - temg, which he claimed was a full justification of tiie new arrangement, was made by Mr Bidgood. Under the pre- > sent arrangement, he said, a trained patrolman was on duty at afternoon and evening sessions every day. Every member of the staff of the theatres was trained in emergency drill and was allotted a point of duty to be token up on a given signal in the event of fire. This move could be carried out without the knowledge of the audience. The duty of the patrolman, who attended the fire station for instruction in his work at the request of the superintendent, was to clear the theatre in the shortest possible time. An officer of the brigade periodically examined toe theatre patrolmen in their task. The present arrangement was that the brigade should combat anything in the nature of a fire after the theatre had been evacuated. Finally, inspectors of the City Council visited the theatres to check the seating. Under toe old system, on the other 'hand, a fireman was on duty every evening* and chi Saturday afternoons only. His duty was to combat fires, and Mr Bidgood contended that by the very nature of big duty he would precipitate a panic. „ “In most motion picture theatres, continued Mr Bidgood. ■“there are at ■ least two, and sometimes th>ee, patrolmen trained by the brigade. At no time is a theatre without a patrolman. _ Under present-day conditions there is no menace on toe stage, tnere being no scenery, cables, and so on, and every projection room is under the direct supervision of the Department of Explosives, and is equipped with every safety device.” ... Mr Bidgood said it was absura to say, as Superintendent Warner did in bis report, that the firemen had to serve two masters. If a theatre manager wished to dismiss a fireman, he would apply to the superintendent for approval of his intention to appoint another man. In fire-fighting matters the men took their instructions from the superintendent or his representative. and Mr Bidgood wished it made clear that the theatres did not seek to dictate to toe brigade in its own > sphere. Speaking of a specific complaint of Superintendent Warner that chairs had been placed in aisles during a recent performance in the city of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, Mr Bidgood said that the present arrangement was between the fire authorities and the picture theatres and did not include in its scope visiting companies.