NO LICENCE FOR TWO THEATRES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26025, 31 January 1950, Page 4

NO LICENCE FOR TWO THEATRES

REQUIREMENTS OF FIRE BRIGADE OTHER BUILDINGS ALSO AFFECTED

Licences for the Roxy Theatre and Radiant Hall would not be issued until the' requirements of the Christchurch Fire Brigade had been complied with, reported the Chief City Inspector (Mr J. W. Huggins) to the City Council last evening. A similar request was made to the Radiant Hall last year and it appeared that more drastic steps would have to be taken to obtain compliance.

Licences would not be issued to the Beckenham Bowling Club. St. Albans Hall, Winter Gardens, Rugby Park grandstand, Mayfair Lounge, and English Park until they met the requirements of the Fire Brigade. Lancaster Park was not licensed, being controlled by the Government, The superintendent of the Fire Brigade again recommended as a condition of licence that all theatres be installed with an automatic sprinkler system of an approved type, connected by alarm to the brigade headquarters. The question of emergency lighting systems for theatres was being held in abeyance, pending the issue of the standard by-law for panic prevention in theatres. A clause making the suppression of smoking in the auditorium and the rear of the stage the responsibility of the management was also recommended. On the recommendation of the Chief City Inspector, the council decided to deal with automatic sprinkler systems, smoking and emergency lighting systems by a standard code. The Standards Institute will be approached, the council having rescinded resolutions dealing with the three matters passed on March 14, 1949.