PUBLIC HALLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26842, 5 August 1948, Page 4

PUBLIC HALLS

LESSORS CONCERNED ENFORCEMENT OF BY-LAW FIXING OF SEATS TO FLOOR Some concern is felt by lessors of public halls in Dunedin at the rumour that the by-law concerning seating is to be enforced by the Dunedin Metropolitan Fire Board in the interests of public safety in the event of fire. No official confirmation or denial of the rumour could be obtained by the Daily Times. The chairman of the Fire Board, Mr E. H. Ferguson, declined to comment for publication. Earlier, the superintendent of the Fire Brigade, Mr F. C. Laidlaw, also declined to comment, but referred the Daily Times to the by-law. The by-law, which applies to seating in halls, theatres and such places of entertainment, is contained in section 270 of the Dunedin City Council’s Bylaw No. 1. It states: “All seats in the auditorium, except those contained in boxes, shall be firmly secured to the floor, and no seat in the auditorium shall have more than six seats intervening between it and an aisle or passageway on either side, and no form, stool, or seat shall be placed in an aisle or passageway.” Effect on Dances Lessors of halls that are used for concerts and similar entertainment as well as for dancing, are concerned about the situation that will arise if the by-law is enforced. If the seats must be “firmly secured to the floor,” as the by-law stipulates, the use of the hall, for dancing will be then out of the question. A large number of halls in Dunedin will be affected.

Questions are being asked about the Town Hall and Concert Chamber, which are controlled by the City Council itself, -and which would both be affected. Attention has been drawn in the past to the fire danger created by the iron roller doors of the Concert Chamber being down while the chamber was occupied by the public. This matter has received the attention of the council, and staff has been especially detailed to ensure that the doors remain up while the chamber is occupied. Inquiries are also being made by the council in an endeavour to obtain more suitable doors for the Concert Chamber.

Approached by the Daily Times, the town clerk, Mr R. A. Johnston, said that the enforcement of the by-law was a matter for the Fire Board. The by-law had been in existence since 1912 at least. The seats in the Town Hall and Concert Chamber, he added, were fastened together in sections so that they could not be easily moved. Recently, it is understood by the Daily Times, the Fire Board and the City Engineer’s Department informed the lessors of certain halls that single seats were disapproved and that all seats should be strapped or fixed together in rows of five or six. Some lessors, it is believed, objected to the enforcement of this requirement, stating that it would mean a limitation of the uses to which the seats could be put, that it would make the stacking and storing of the seats more difficult and that it would mean unnecessary labour and expense. Although this requirement is not contained, in. Section 270 of By-law No. 1, it is stated that the authorities have enforced it to the extent of refusing to issue a licence for the halls in which the requirement has not been observed unless the lessors gave a written guarantee that the halls would be used for dancing only, and not for concerts or'similar entertainment. No licences are issued for halls until they have been inspected by an officer of the Fire Board. The City Engineer’s Department then makes a recommendation to the town clerk, who issues or declines a licence in accordance with the recommendation received. Comment by Councillors The chairman of the City Council Works Committee. Cr Ireland, told the Daily Times that it was preferable for seats to be fixed to the floor in any halls used for concerts and similar entertainments. This had never been done in the Town Hall or Concert Chamber, however, and, if it were, an awkward position would be created because the halls were frequently used for dancing. If the seating were fixed to the floor, hundreds of bolts would have to be taken out before every dance and replaced with the seating hefore a concert or gathering was held. Hundreds of holes would have to be made in the floors to fix the seats. The result would be to place the halls out of use for three-quarters of the time. Cr Ireland added that the enforcement of the by-law in section 270 had never been discussed by his committee. The Town Hall and Concert Chamber when occupied were under strict supervision by the staff, who maintained a vigilant watch. Cr Taverner, the chairman of the City Council ’ Finance Committee, which controls the Town Hall and Concert Chamber, said that the superintendent of the Fire Brigade had asked for a replacement of the iron roller doors on the Concert Chamber, and the committee was obtaining quotes for a new type of doors which opened outwards. The question of the seats being •“ firmly secured to the floor ” had never been investigated by the committee, Cr Taverner added, but the committee would be pleased to make this investigation if it were deemed necessary.