FIRE ESCAPES

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 134, 9 June 1941, Page 9

FIRE ESCAPES

CITY HOTELS

LICENSEES' OBLIGATIONS

The obligations imposed upon licensees of hotels to bring their fireescape equipment into line with the recommendations of the City Engineer within six months were stressed by Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., chairman of the Wellington Licensing Committee, at the annual meeting of the committee today.

"The committee thinks that all licensees should commence this work and have it completed within the six months, as requisitioned, or in accordance with some alternative scheme agreed to by the City Council after consultation with the owners and licensee," he said.

"It may be suggested that this is an awkward time to make these alterations, but some hotels are spending a great deal of money in increasing their bar accommodation. The need for fire escapes seems to be very necessary, and the necessity for them in the future may be much greater than in the past."

Mr. Stout said that where the alterations were small and could be commenced at once the. committee expected them to be started.

Mr. G. G. G. Watson, t who was appearing for one of the licensees, said that in some cases there was a shortage of materials for the alterations.

That, said the chairman, was why the alternative of consultation with the city authorities had been proposed. If, in such a case, agreement could not be reached, the matter would have to be reviewed by the committee in six months' time.