KING EDWARD BARRACKS.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16856, 9 June 1920, Page 7

KING EDWARD BARRACKS.

: : THE FIRE DANGER. A special report on the' fire danger at King Edward Barracks during public entertainments in the building was presented to tho Christchurch Fire Board at the mooting last night by the I Superintendent. The Superintendent stated that durI ing the recent entertainments that took I place in' the building a spark from-one | of tho gas-heaters ignited the flimsy j decorations overhead, and but for the ! firemen being present tho results might 1 have prcTVca disastrout. He would ! point out that the King Edward Bar- , racks was most unsuitable for largo numbers of people to' congregate, owing chiefly to the inadequate means of escapo in caso of panic or fire, aad ho was of opinion that the Government, or whoever was responsible, should not allow the premises to bo used to that extent when they were dangerously overcrowded, as was the caso on May 14th and 15th last. Tho exit capacity of tho building, when used for public entertainments, was vory limited, and lio would suggest that the matter bo brought under the notice of tho military authorities, with a request that additional exits bo provided if tho premises be let for any other purpose than that for which they were originally buil£ for. Mr A. AVilliams said tho report showed that tho Board did tho right thing in taking the precautions it did. Regardinsr the nronosal to armrnnch

iwgaiumg urn proposal to approacn those in control of the building relative to providing additional exits, etc., the opinion of the Board was that it was seldom used for public entertainments, and it was really unnecessary to insist on the precautions proposed. Otherwise tho report -was adopted.