DANGER OF OVERCROWDING

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 90, 16 April 1920, Page 7

DANGER OF OVERCROWDING

EXITS TO BE KEPT OPEN

The danger of overcrowded hotels and temporary accommodation during the Prince's visit was emphasised in a report to the City Council by Superintendent H. Tait. of theXentral Brigade, last evening. "In view of the anticipated large influx of visitors to the city during the visit of the Prince of Wales," said Mr. Tait, "and the correspondingly, large amount of temporary accommodation, being arranged to meet their needs, such accommodation will be arranged and 1 composed of all sorts and conditions of temporary fittings, placed in every nook and corner. Every licensed hotel and boarding-house will have a heavy excess number over the normal maximum number allowed in the building; the occasion demands that this latitude be allowed them. I have, therefore, to ask that the Internal Affairs Department, Police Department, V.M.C.A., 'and Salvation Army be'communicated with, with a view to their preventing the emergency exits, passage-ways, fii^e escapes, and landings being obstructed- by temporary fittings, luggage, etc., thus avoiding, as far as possjble, any catastrophe occurring ■to mar the Prince's visit, by the inability of the visitors to seek safety should the occasion arise."

The report was adopted,