HOME OFFICE WILL OPEN INQUIRY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18958, 2 January 1930, Page 11

HOME OFFICE WILL OPEN INQUIRY.

PAISLY DISASTER TO BE INVESTIGATED. (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1) (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received January 2, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, January 1. An immediate investigation is being made by an expert of the Home Office into the disaster at the cinema at Paisley, whereby 69 children lost their lives, and 37 were injured, one of whom has since died. A public inquiry will later be held. Dr Gray, of the Paisley Infirmary, has dismissed the theory that the victims died from carbon monoxide poisoning from the fumes of the burning film. In the words of one official “the children were killed trying to escape from a danger which did not exist.” But the cry of “ Fire ” had already gone up and it was too late to avert a panic. Most of the children died from suffocation in the crush. Some of them leapt from the balcony on to the heads of those beneath. The King and Queen have sent to the Provost of Paisley a message expressing their great distress at the appalling disaster and asking the Provost to convey to the bereaved relatives their heartfelt sympathy in their overwhelming sorrow. The Prime Minister, telephoning to the Provost and speaking for his countrymen and countrywomen, sent a message of sympathy. He said that such a tragedy at any time would have moved the country to sorrow, but happening on New Year’s Eve, when everyone was happy and with the children were planning feasts and gaiety, deep indeed was the gloom which this devastation had cast upon them. “ Everyone blessed by having their children around understands in a most intimate way, the tortuous sorrow which is in the hearts of so many of your citizens,” he said. The Town Council at a special meeting to-day decided to head the relief fund with a grant of 1000 guineas and to defray the funeral expenses of the victims.