OVERCROWDING THE THEATRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7721, 2 June 1903, Page 3

OVERCROWDING THE THEATRE.

A FINE IMPOSED.

A charge against G-eorge Barnes, the representative of Musgrove's " Sweefe Nell " Company, of altering the internal fittings of the Theatre Royal without the consent Of the City Council, was coiled on this morning at the* Magistrate's Court. Mr iFisher appeared on behalf cf the City Council, and mentioned that Percy Her* man» the licensee of the theatre, had already been fined 40s and costs fdr permitting the alterations, and Mr Beetham, S.M., in imposing the amount, had held in mind the fact that this present prosecution would also ba brought. 'Evidence was taken that the interior of the theatre had been altered so that the defendant company hod gained in takings at the rate of £40 per Week. This gain was made at the expense of the comfort of the occupants of the pit. This part of the theatre was very much overcrowded, so much so that the police and attendants were unable to gtt a passage through when required. Barnes was spoken to and his attention directed to the by-laws. He replied that he was going to run the show as he liked and notoft the City Council liked. defendant did not appear, and Mr HaseMen, assuming that Mr Beetham, S.M., -Had the present prosecution in his mind when he fixed the previous fine at 40s, fiked the defendant 40s also.