UNRESERVED SEATS.

Waikato Times, Volume 100, Issue 16816, 7 June 1926, Page 8

UNRESERVED SEATS.

SOLD AT “RESERVED" PRICES. WIIAT TIIE LAW SAYS. The question of reserved seats in picture theatres is raised by a correspondent, “Picture Fan,” arising out of the Court case in Christchurch, in which a theatrical manager was charged with failing to ensure that his theatre was opened lo the public at least half an hour before the performance on payment of the minimum advertised prices. “I think it is time something was done in 'Wellington in this respect," tiic correspondent writes. "I am a working girl, and I was desirous of taking my mother to Hie pictures a couple of weeks ago. This was not a Saturday night, but a week night. I wanted to take my mother upstairs, hut certainly expected to pay about 2s each. We went lo Hie Theatre. 1 went up lo the box, and asked for two unreserved seats upstairs. The girl said Unit all the seats were reserved, at 2s ‘Jd each. This is tiic Saturday night price for reserved seats that are reserved at The Bristol. I had lo pay 2s Dd eacli for seats that Hie management had reserved, unless I desired lo make a scene. Ido not consider ibis at all fair. They had simply put reserved cards on every seat upstairs. No doubt lliere are oilier theatres doing the same thing, and il is high lime something was done in the matter.” Oil inquiry being made of the manager of the theatre complained of. if was explained that a certain number nf rows of seals are always reserved, and charged for at reserved seat prices, irrespective of whether they are actually reserved by patrons. Prices of admission varied, however, according to llie expense incurred in showing big pictures, and on such occasions Hie management reserved the right to charge for all seats in the theatre as though they hud been reserved. The manager said iiiat wa> probably the ease when Hie corres- | pondeiil visited the theatre, as a special til in was being screened about a fortnight ago.

One of Hie. eondilions on which licenses are issued by I lie City council for houses of inlerlainment specifies lli.it “il shall be Hie duty of Urn licensee of every budding licensed under Ihe provisions of Part XXXII.nI' (tie. Municipal Corporations Act. IP2O. and of (lie Eleventh Schedule thereto, to ensure that the building shall lliroughoiil he open to and accessible to the public on payment of ordinary minimum advertised price for a period of at least half an hour immediately preceding every public! performance. The entertainment shall for the purpose of this clause be deemed in every ease lo commence at the opening ol the overture, or at. lim beginning of a,iv musical item, or at tlm commencement of any oilier performance preliminary or introductory to the main eiilerlainmeiit.

II was apparently upon this clause that the Christchurch Magistrate gave, his decision that any person paying (he unreserved price was entitled to lake a seal which was not reserved half an hour before Ihe commencement of the performance.