PAISLEY DISASTER.
RESULTANT REGULATION. PROTECTION OF CHILDREN. (Received June 20. 8.15 p.m.) LONDON. June 20. As a sequel to the cinema disaster at Paisley last New Year's Eve, when 70 children were killed, the Home Office has issiieu a new regulation. This provides that where the majority of an audience comprises children there must be sufficient attendants effectively to control the children's movements and ensure the safe clearance of the building in case of emergency. Stark tragedy attended a special New Year's Eve entertainment for children in a cinema at Paisley. A smoking film caused a panic, and although the building was not ignited, a frantic struggle to reach the exits had dreadful results. Seventy children perished, most of them from asphyxiation as a result of gas-brackets being broken hi the mad rush for safety, and poisonous gas being poured into their midst. Many other children were taken to hospital, most of whom were suffering from shock. Heartrending scenes were witnessed. Numbers of the terror-stricken children •were piled in heaps breast-high when rescuers reached them. In the hospital distracted mothers identified their offspring and nurses fainted, appalled by the magnitude of the disaster. There were many instances of heroism. The tragedy was described as the worst of its kind ever known in Scotland.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19300621.2.51
Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 13
Word Count
213PAISLEY DISASTER. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 13
Using This Item
NZME is the copyright owner for the New Zealand Herald. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence . This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of NZME. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Acknowledgements
This newspaper was digitised in partnership with Auckland Libraries and NZME.