FIREMEN AT THEATRES

Southland Times, Issue 21198, 26 September 1930, Page 7

FIREMEN AT THEATRES

QUESTION OF PAYMENT. IMPORTANT JUDGMENT DELIVERED. (Per United Press Association.) Wairoa, September 25. In the case Wairoa Borough. Council versus Wairoa Amusements, Ltd., heard on September 4 for failure to pay a fee for qualified firemen in attendance at entertainments, the Magistrate (Mr Harper) gave his reserved judgment to-day, holding that the council had the power to maker the by-law in question and was reasonable. The defendant company was therefore convicted and fined £1 and costs. A Wairoa Press Association telegram dated September 4 stated: A case of much interest to picture proprietors was heard in the Magistrate’s Court here this afternoon when the Borough Council proceeded against the Wairoa Amusements Company for a breach of the by-law requiring that theatres employ firemen at a charge of 3/4 per evening performance. Mr Chamberlain, for the council, said that the by-law was similar to that of many other local bodies and was within the terms of the Municipal Corporations Act. Mr Barnard, for the defence, submitted that the Fire Brigade Act removed the power of making by-laws providing against danger of fire and constituted a fire board as a sole authority with power to make by-laws providing against fire. The presence of a fireman was useless to prevent fire and the danger of a panic was best provided against by the theatre staff having control. The introduction of a fireman merely meant dual control. Mr Harper, S.M., said that the case was of muck importance and reserved his decision