PICTURE SHOW HOURS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 72, 19 December 1918, Page 6

PICTURE SHOW HOURS

PROPOSAL TO THE'MINISTER.

Not only hnvo tho owners of picture ehows been affected by tho now legislation regulating the hours of business in picture houses, but the employees have also suffered. Among them are the operators of thf machines, the musicians, and the ticket-sellers and ushers. As the theatres are to be open for shorter times during the day and evening, smaller numbers of these employees will be required. The idea of the trainers of the legislation was supposed l to bo that the theatres were badly ventilated, but it is claimed that most, if not nil, of the up-to-dnto and recently-built theatres now conducted as continuous shows are fitted with ventilating sets capable of renewing the air in the theatre in from three to five minutes. It is understood that the proprietors, are thinking of making to tho Minister of Public Health a suggestion that in view of tho obvious unreasonableness of the new rules he should not prosecute if they are disregarded. The owner of a picture theatre is liable to a penalty of per day for a continuing offence for keeping open in defiance of the law, and it is said that some of tho owners of tho biggest and most successful of the houses are considering whether it will lie payable for them to lose the five pounds a day and keep open. A deputation froin the workers in the picture show business in Auckland waited on tho Acting-Prime Minister, Sir James Allen, yesterday. They were introduced by Dr. Newman, M.P. They represented that they spoke for 75 employees in Auckland, many of whom had been given a week's notice of termination of their engagement. They presented a petition with '2900 signatures, all obtained in a space of 2i hours. One of the points made by tho deputation was that among the employees of the picture houses had been many men who had gone to the front. These men had all been promised that their billets would be open for them on their return, but under the new order of things there would be no positions in which these men could be put. They asked the Minister to use his influence fo have the operation of the Act suspended in oome way, until it could be amended by Parliament. Sir Jnmes Allen replied that he would communicate with tho Minister of Public Health on the matters raised.