DANCE SEQUEL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21578, 24 August 1933, Page 8

DANCE SEQUEL

"BACK TO CHILDHOOD •* GRAVE FIRE MENACE CROWDED TOWN HALL SMOKING AND "CHAOS" OFFICIAL SPEAKS OUT Deep concern at the dangerous conditions existing in the Town Hall on the evening of August 8, when the "Back to Childhood Party" was held < in aid of the Prosperity Week cam- J paign, was expressed at a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Fire Board yesterday. The matter was raised when, the board received the following report from the superintendent, Mr. W. L, Wilson: —• ! , ■ "About 9.30 p.m. on August 8, in < response to a telephone call from my inspecting officer, I proceeded to the £ Town Hall, where the 'Back to Childhood Party' was in progress, and, on • arrival, I found a large crowd of people assembled at the'main entrance in Queen Street trying to gain admission. I experienced considerable difficulty in getting into the hall, inside of which the conditions obtaining can only be described as chaotip. "The interior of the building was one seething mass of humanity, the congestion being such that it would be most difficult to estimate the number of people present in the hall. Tho dress circle was full to capacity with people standing everywhere, passageways being non-existent. The only exceptions to the general overcrowding were in the case of the upper circle and tho platform. ' "A Bad Precedent" "The state of affairs revealed at the time of my visit constitutes a most flagrant breach of the city by-laws. As previously reported, with particular regard to this hall, such breaches create a bad precedent as far as other'place® of public amusement are concerned, and make the task of the board's inspecting officers, and those of the city traffic department, a very difficult one. "While fully appreciative of and in sympathy with the deserving objects of the function, I would contend that the name of charity .should not be invoked and used in condonation of an unwzr-, ranted and unjustifiable breaking of the law, the more so when the very nature of the decorations, flimsy dresa materials and indiscriminate smoking, could have, at any moment, precipi-r tated a grievous and appalling calamity. I cannot too strongly urge the necessity for some immediate action to be taken to prevent a possible recurrence of, the proceedings." Exit Door Blocked

In the following discussion it was stated that the City Council controlled the hall, and was therefore in -j the position where it would have to * prosecute itself for any breach. ' The Chairman, Mr. J. J. Kingston: The position got beyond control. It was a very difficult position. With - cigarette smoking and flimsy dresses a very serious situation is revealed.

Mr. Wilson said it was only a matter of time before something serious woulA happen. Among other things on tha j evening in question, one of the exit doors had been blocked by a row of chairs. These had been moved away, but were still loose about the hall. It only needed a panic to upset the chairs, which would brought people tumbling down, and somebody would have been trodden to death.

On the motion of Mr; A. G. Lunn, it was® decided to forward to the. City Council a copy of the report, with a covering letter deploring tlfe position and expressing the hope that it would not arise again.' , ••