CROWDED THEATRE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1930, Page 11

CROWDED THEATRE

PERFORMANCE STOPPED

PROSECUTION PENDING

A complaint regarding overcrowding at the Grand Opera House was made to the Superintendent, of the1 Fire Brigade (Mr. J. Croeke) on 7th Juno. Ho dispatched a station officer to the theatre, and the results of the latter'a investigations were embodied in a letter which the superintendent forwarded to the Town Clerk, and .which, was read at toduyfs meeting' of the Wellington Fire Boar'a. ' . :

According to the letter, the officer found the upper circle overcrowded, and he had to havo the performance stopped and tho house lights switched on so that the exact position could bo ascertained. It was then found that the steps and aisles were being used as seats. The officer instructed tho manager to havo all persons not occupying authorised seats removed] At least sixty persons were requested to leave tho upper circle. Some of them were accommodateed in seats in other parts of the theatre, but the majority had to leave the building. Mr. Creeke asked if the City, Council intended to take .any action in the matter. Ho added that it had been brought to his notice that the fire protection watchman at the theatre had been acting as an usher while in the brigade uniform (which was on loan). The Town Clerk's reply was to the effect that tho City Council intended to proseculo the manager of the theatre. In regard to the uniforms worn by watchmen, it was desired that the board should not recall them until the question of the future control of the men had boen decided.

Mr. M. P. Luckie said the City Council considered that it was improper for theatre firemen to bo the direct oraployees of the theatre management. It was very seldom that there was any overcrowding in the Wellington theatres, remarked the superintendent. There had been one caso prior to the one now before the board, but after the manager had been informed of the matter, the theatre had been kept well under control. Frequent inspections of the theatres were carried out by officers of the brigade.