AMUSEMENT PALACES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1916, Page 4

AMUSEMENT PALACES.

SAFETY OK PATRON'S. At the Borough Council meeting fas» 'light, Mr. R. 0. Ellis acted as spokesman of a deputation .representing the People's Pictures Company, and read a letter from the Borough Engineer refusing a permit, under by-law 78, for certain proposed alterations to the theatre. Mr.' Kllis submitted that under by-la*iv ill the Council had discretionary powers. Ho 1 said' that there had been''unsavory rumors in the street regarding the action of the borough officials in tha matter, and he wished to give this an emphatic denial; they really were not worth consideration. The original sketch plan had boon approved of by the'engineer, and the amended plan was, he submitted, a much bettei one. Concrete walls would be extended at a coat of over £3OO. Solicitors' opinions had been obtained, and they were to the effect that by-law -21 would cover the matter, if the Council used their discretionary powers. The deputation submitted (1) that plans hail already been approved bv the engineer and buildings inspector showing only "20 feet of aide concrete walls; if the tenders received had toeon, nearer the architect's estimate the contract would have been signed and tha oermit issued. . (2) The present plan provides for the, side Concrete walls to extend 50 feet from tha frontage, and beyond any adjoining buildings. The extra ao feet 6f concrete wffll was extended! to meet the requirement* of the borough officials, at a cost of £3M-. (9) Tha whole of the new work is being built in concrete, and the whole of the dress circle will be in a fire proof building, with two exits opening to the publiu street. (4) The whole ofc the interior of the present building within the lin# of the new work will-be covered with plaster boarding, o, special fire resist-in# mfc-* ferial. (5) Access and egress to and from the 'present building will 'be improved by the lowering of the present floor down to the level of the footpath; the whole; of the ps<#ent building will then be resting on ft I 'concrete wall for ft height of six feet up from t!ie floor. (6) These will he fire exits eight feet wide on each side of the building to Queen Street, and" a fire exit (Ire feet wide to King Street. (T) Th 6 present biiiUlinf, is a flrst-clasj building, has only been creetod twelve years, and cost this company considerably over £2OOO. Compliance with by-law No. 070 would compel us to destroy the whole of-the building, the only portion of which that would be of any use iu the concrete building being the floor, (8) That a full compliance with by-law (170 will inflict hardship and needlessly and injtiriously affect the shareholders (a very great many of whom are poor .people) ;i it will alio seriously disldcate the business of tiio company, without any corresponding benefit to the : community. (A) By-law 21 gives the Council power to legally dispense with the requirements of the general by-law where compliance with the bv-law would injuriously affect any person or persons, and is apparently designed to meet a case like the present one. (10) That we ore large ratepayers, consumers of current, and licensees-of the Council, which vill doubtless materially increase if the additions are constructed. (Note: The property was previously non-rateable). Owing- to the lateness of the hour, consideration of, the question was dej jferred until Wednesday evening,