IN CASE OF FIRE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 131, 12 September 1910, Page 7

IN CASE OF FIRE

THE THEATRE EXIT. The Works Committee of the Borough Council having considered a lengthy letter from the Eire Board concerning the Theatre Royal asks the Council to forward a copy of it to the Theatre Company, and to ask what they propose to do in the matter of providing a fire exit on the eastern side. The letter, after drawing attention to section 51 of the Fire Brigades Act, goes on to state that "since its formation this board has been greatly exercised through the unsatisfactory condition of the Theatre Royal in this town, and has from time to time given much consideration to these matters which come directly under its supervision, while at the same time there have" been other elements which the board could not disregard, although not within its scope, but more directly affecting the responsibility of your council. As you are aware, requisitions have 'been made by this board and insisted upon with the ! object of reducing the risk to life in ' the event of a fire breaking out while the Theatre was occupied by an audience, and very great difficulty has been experienced in getting the company owning the building to comply with these requirements. Nearly the whole of last year this Theatre was run without a license, your council apparently thinking it better to ignore a continuing breach of the law. The members of this board, although expressly exempted bj statute from personal responsibility for any consequences of neglect, have felt that the use of this Theatre by crowded audiences (especially when loose chairs are permitted) is a danger to the community, and they have had many conferences on the subject with then superintendent. That officer has had an exceedingly anxious time, always dreading catastrophe, and it is probably in the knowledge of your council that he has on several occasions (as, for instance, last week when ''Aladdin was produced) taken special precautions by placing on duty a considerable number of firemen and providing hose and other appliances where they could be available for instant use. The board feels that the Theatre with its present means of exits is not a safe building for use by large audiences. Formerly ample provision was made for exit from the gallery through the windows on the Devon Street frontage and on to the verandah, whence it was an easy matter to gain the street. The alterations were made and a tow of tea-rooms and offices were constructed on the Devon Street front, with the effect of cutting off access to the verandah, leaving only a narrow stairway to Devon Street and an exit on the western side. At the board's instance alterations were made to the stairway, but it is realised that while this exit is much improved, it is still ineffective to cope with an emergency. In the event of a fire occurring in one of the shops below or in the Burlington Tea Rooms it can readily be imagined that not only might the main stairs be rendered unavailable, but persons sitting in the eastern portion of the dress circle might find themselves cut off from the exit on the westem side of the circle. Some time ago this board suggested that such a contingency should 'be provided for by a light platform extended from the eastern side of the circle in such a manner as to afford egress into Egmont Street; but objections were raised to this and we did not insist upon it. The super-, intendent having now formally notified the board that, while he recognised that a considerable expense has been incurred by the Theatre Company ra endeavouring to make the building safer, he feels that it is impossible to make it entirely satisfactory, and therefore expressly disclaims any responsibility in the event of such a disaster occurring as he and the board dread. Another matter to which it is necessaiy to call your attention is the practice of lining up cabs and 'buses alongside the pavement immediately in front of the Theatre, which prevents people from spreading out into the street afte coming down the stairs, and consequently prolongs the emptying of the Theatre The members of the board St fcir d»t, t. pl.e. before your council m unmistakeable terms and now ask that you will give ti™subject most careful consideration.