PICTURE THEATRES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 280, 22 August 1919, Page 9

PICTURE THEATRES

CLOSING LEGISLATION.

The Minister of Public Health (the Hon. G. W. Eussell) was waited upon yesterday by a deputation of picture theatre employees, representing Auokhnd, Wellington, Christchurch, and Pal-i-,erston North,' -Tho deputation presentid a. numerously-signed petition,, asking .'hat the clause of the , Health .amendment .'-Act,, 1918. requiring picture theatres ..to bo'closed ..during special hours, might be* repealed. The deputation said that this clauiie. had led to the ilismissal of a large number of picture theatre employees,'some of whom were '(unfitted for other' occupations'. . .■ln .reply, the Minister. Btated that ..the clause wis passed at a time when the .country, was in the throes of the epl'identic, and was considered necessary. ,in the interests of the public health in order to secure ample time for' complete cleansing, fumigation, and ventilation. Ifow that the "health conditions, as regards the epidemic appeared to be normal it was intended to bring down legislation during the coming session to proride foil'' the licensing of picture theatres, ivhich would enable each case to be considered on' its' merits. The licensing, authority would thus be üble to differentiate between those classes' of theatres which could be opened for longer or shorter hours without being' inimicail to the public .welfare.' The mnin question, however, was .that the health of the ipeople should be considered, and as- under the system of picture theatres 'opening at 11 a.m. and closing at 10.30 p.m., there would be practically only some two or three hours in the morning for cleaning the theatres, the matter required careful consideration, and this was bejng given'.' ,• They mirdit rest assured that tho object of . the Government was to do what was best in the interests of the people as a, whole.