HANDLING CROWDS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1927, Page 8

HANDLING CROWDS

(To the Editor) - . ;~; Sir,—l note with .regret the scene which-,'.,"-, , took place outside the entrance to: the." ■■•"-: Auckland Town Hall 1 on the ■ occasion of the visit of Their Royal -Highnesses the' ' '" Duke and Duchess of York. Is it not time • ■■■.? that those in authority adopted the system - ~, ■ .'■ of portable barriers,, such as are used so effectively in the north of.England, and .. 1..', not have, at the last moment, to use an emergency method of clasping hands after . ":' having had weeks to prepare a method'• ' ''' that would be efficient?' With, the barrier in position women and children may sit ..;>.,;. down on the frpnt.6f.it, thus rendering it'-. . more effective by adding- weight to it. 1.. j '.t Siirely amongst the traffic inspectors there A * ' are those who have 6een the system used. ' ~ Ido not think'it wise that the police Bhould be used to push a crowd when theys^" - are wanted to watch it. ' It is very little^,-.- .-■„ use using a rope-to keep the- people back;-, /^ - when there are tnose in the crowd who.;^ having come late cannot see. 1 These are" ; the ones who! push, knowing that their-• position cannot be made any worse. If >t-'r may hot be thought worth while to make 1 •••-••' these barriers for the few visits we have,..■ <■„ but there are numerous occasions when „ " they are very useful, as at an emergency they can be brought and placed in a few " ~ moments.—l am, etc., - :■ D. CKOWTEER.. 25th February. - , . : .'■•■' "