SCREENING STOPPED

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 153, 19 September 1927, Page 9

SCREENING STOPPED

THE “PALESTINE” FILM * SIR MAUI POMARE EXPLAINS (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter) WELLINGTON, To-day. “A fire resisting projection-room, having provision to screen fire and smoke from the audience, and with ventilation to the outer air, is an absolute necessity,” said the acting-Min-ister of Internal Affairs, Sir Maui Pomare, to-day, in referring to the attitude adopted by the department in refusing a licence for the screening of the motion picture “Palestine” in the Auckland Town Hall recently. The Minister said that the possibility of panic in the event of a fire in the screening* of pictures was much greater in the Town Hall, where seats were moveable, than in the ordinary cinema theatre, properly fitted up for the purpose. The incident would serve as an indication that the screening of films would not be permitted, unless proper precautions against fire were taken.

In this case the Minister said he did not think the picture agency had fully explained why permission had been refused. The application was not made to the department until the day of screening, but the department had agreed to issue the licence if the approved projection-room was erected. The inspector reported that the proposed projection-room was unsatisfactory, both as regards construction and ventilation.