Appeal Lodged On Theatre Royal Fire Requirements

Press, Volume C, Issue 29696, 14 December 1961, Page 21

Appeal Lodged On Theatre Royal Fire Requirements

, ‘^ n a PPeaI has been lodged with the Magistrate’s Court by the owners of the Theatre Royal against the requirements of the Chief Fire Officer (Mr L. R. Osmond) that the whole stage area should be equipped with a sprinkler system.

This announcement by the Town Clerk (Mr C. S. Bowie) cut across a debate by the City Council last evening on the renewal of the theatre’s public building licence, which expires at the end of this month.

The works committee recommended that the licence be renewed, subject to the company giving an undertaking that it would comply with the requirements within six months. Cr. W. R. Campbell, who is chairman of the Christchurch Metropolitan Fire Board, moved that the council adhere to its decision not to renew the licence after December 31. '•The question of seeing ■My Fair Lady’ or any other lady takes second place to public safety.” said Cr. Campbell. "This council has a responsibility. It must take notice of the recommendation of the chief fire officer which was made three years ago. “The recommendation was based on what pertains in the by-laws of the London County Council and also in the New Zealand Standards Institute’s draft by-law. “The question will be raised why this requirement is not enforced in Auckland, Wellington or Dunedin. We should look at what happens in more advanced places.” Sprinkler systems had been operating since 1889. Cr. Campbell said. The fire in

the Addington trotting course grandstand was the first time a building with a sprinkler system had been lost by an internal fire. “But there is no doubt about sprinklers,” he added. As the matter was becoming the subject of a judicial inquiry it should not be discussed, said Cr. H. P. Smith. However, if the committee’s recommendation was not adopted the Theatre Royal would be without a licence in a fortnight. Cr. Campbell: Good. A decision could not affect the appeal. Cr. Smith said. The council then agreed that the finance committee should have power to act. The Repertory Theatre, the Tivoli Theatre, the Vogue Theatre, the Foresters’ Hall and Canterbury Court were other public buildings for which conditional renewal licences were approved. As for the Theatre Royal, the council had requested the installation of a sprinkler system for the whole stage area at the Repertory Theatre for tlie last three years, but it was understood that the society’s finances could not meet the expense, said the by-laws committee in a re-

port. The council agreed to renew the licence on condition that the proprietors complied with the requirements not later than June 30, 1962. The same date was fixed by the council for the ownera of the Tivoli Theatre (Kerridge-Odeon Theatres, Ltd.) to comply with the council’s requirements that more sanitary conveniences be installed to conform to the Drainage and Plumbing Regulations. In the case of the Vogue Theatre, Barrington street, the committee said there had been further delay in complying with the requirements for improved ventilation, but a firm of ventilating engineers had been engaged to provide an estimate. A renewal of the licence was granted subject to adequate ventilation being provided by June 30. The Foresters’ Hall, Oxford terrace, did not comply with the council’s standards in a number of respects, the committee said. It was deteriorating steadily. No progress had been made in the last two years to clarify the position of ownership of the adjoining right-of-way. The council agreed that unless the requirements were met by June 30 a licence would not be granted. The licence for Canterbury Court, at the Addington Show Grounds, was renewed on condition that a sprinkler system was installed by June 30. Reporting on the annual licensing of public buildings, the Chief City Health Inspector (Mr A. P. Millthorpe) said that fewer halls had been erected this year than previbusly. Improvements required at the State Theatre and the Canterbury Museum were completed, and the council’s requirements for Williamson Park and the Trades Hall were almost completed.