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Soon as possible. As, however, the adoption of the safety code is a matter within the •discretion of the local municipal or other body concerned, it may be necessary to give power to the licensing officer to require as the condition of the grant or renewal of a licence that the theatre is constructed or equipped in accordance with the safety code, whether or not the local authority has adopted it or, having adopted it, is enforcing it properly. A wise discretion will need to be vested in the licensing officer in dealing with ■existing buildings, some of which could not, except by major reconstruction, comply with the code. In general, however, all new buildings and as many old buildings as practical should be required to conform to the proposed standards, and even to the •extent where exceptions are made the licence should be granted only where the licensing officer is satisfied that the public safety is reasonably safeguarded. This also applies to smaller country situations and to places where the place of exhibition has not been ■constructed primarily for a theatre. 85. The Committee feels that the standard code should provide for a recognized and trained fire-protection watchman who is present in the theatre throughout all performances, including matiness, and irrespective of the number present in the audience. Unless there is some very good reason to make an exception, there should be some male person present at every performance, and he should carry out the duties of fire-protection watchman. This may involve in the case of a theatre normally conducted by one individual that he himself should be trained as a fire-protection watchman, but the necessity of his being trained is the greater when he is in sole charge. ORDER OF REFERENCE No. 7 Whether the continuation of an industrial committee such as the Film Industry Board is desirable, and, if so, what matters should be referred to it for determination and to what extent should its constitution and powers be authorized by legislation. 86. In general the Committee accepts the strong representations made to it that the Film Industry Board, so long as it continues to function as satisfactorily in the interests of the industry as it has in the past, should be left unfettered by restrictive rules and regulations so that its very flexibility enables it to cope with the complex problems which arise. 87. At the same time, it is desirable that the Board should receive official recognition so that it may be referred to simply as the Film Industry Board in any legislation or regulations in which it is mentioned. This has already been done in the case of the standard form of film hiring contract (see New Zealand Gazette No. 107 of 24th October, 1940, clause 28), which refers to- — the Film Industry Board (hereinafter referred to as " the Board ") constituted by an agreement in writing bearing date the Bth day of June, 1939, made between the New Zealand Motion Picture Exhibitors' Association, Incorporated, and the Film Exhibitors' Association, Incorporated, of the one part, and the Film Exchanges Association of New Zealand, Incorporated, of the other part. A similar reference in the interpretation section of any amending Act would give the Board statutory recognition. 88. It is further desirable that power should be taken by legislation to meet the situation that would arise if for any reason the Board went out of existence or failed to achieve settlement of the matters committed to it. Part of its strength is that by paragraph 7 of the agreement constituting the Board more than one dissentient vote on a proposed resolution (other than on a matter submitted to the Board as an arbitration tribunal) prevents the passing of that resolution ; this has up to the present time resulted in unanimity in the decisions of the Board, but it could easily lead to a deadlock. The Committee recommends that the Minister should have power in such circumstances to set up a body clothed with the necessary powers to carry on the work heretofore accomplished by the Board.

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