CONTINUOUS PICTURES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 18066, 5 April 1919, Page 6

CONTINUOUS PICTURES.

qtSBATRH MANAGERS CHARGED. • NO PENALTY IMPOSED. ai the Magistrate’s Court yesterday charges against picture theatre mani*gcrs for keeping their theatres -s»pen during the prohibited hours imposed by the Public Health Amending 'act-, 1919, were heard by Mr T.A.B. Bailey, S.M. These were the first charges brought against Christchurch picture theatre proprietors. The defendants were Alfred Rowley and Edwin J. Pogg, managers of the JSfciand and Grand Theatres respectively. They were each charged on two separate informations, with having kept their theatres open on Saturday, March 22, and on Monday, March 31, 1919. -'On behalf of both defendants Mr J. Dougall pleaded guilty. ' The case for the police was conducted by SubInspector Mullany. ~ , ~ •A Mr Dougall said the theatres had all •been closed during the late epidemic. Tr. the legislation which was rushed through last session the Public Health Amending Act was passed prohibiting . picture theatres from opening before 2 p m., or betweon the hours of 5 and 7 pm. on anv day. There was apparently nothing in the Act to prevent _ a! theatre from keeping open till midnight or to prevent other amusement, •'.houses remaining open all day and all night should the proprietors care to Tad opt that course. The legislation /• was most peculiar in that it selected 'j. one olass of amusement only for con’■:sure. The picture theatres which provided a good class of amusement 1 - were no more deserving of censure than ' the others. Mr Dougall said it was •'questionable whether the legislation T -would hot inflict an injury- on the publichealth, as the restricted hours caused people to congregate in far larger num- ' .hers tlian formerly, i M r Dougall said he understood that ...the Auckland picture shows had been //.open continuously since December 14 • Mast/while in Wellington he knew per- • sonally that they had been open continuously since New Year’s Day. The defendants had not opened their theatres till March,' and then only because of the honest belief that their action wa3 justified. It was very difficult, even for a lawyer, to be conversant with all the provisions of any Act until at least two months after it had "been passed. As soon as the polite had called on them the defendants had promised to observe the restricted hours again. The defendants were under the impression that the restricted _ hours -were imposed as an epidemic measure only. In view of the fact tfbn’t the Auckland and Wellington theatres were running continuously counsel asked' that no fine should he inflicted in ’these cases. In reply to the Magistrate, Mr Dougall said both theatres were observing the restricted hours at the present time. Sub-Inspector Mullany said the police did not press for a penalty. Mr Dougall had outlined the facts correctly*, and he believed the present charges were the first of their kind in the jiominion. Both defendants were convicted and discharged.