Being slightly claustrophobic myself, I am not disposed to regard
lightly the warnings of those who foresee the confined space of the 1951 Exhibition hopelessly congested by the crowds who are being exhorted to attend it. This is obviously a serious matter. It might involve actual danger ; it might more easily involve almost intolerable discomfort. If the main concern of those who have got in is to get out as soon as possible, the effect will be deplorable ; and that might quite possibly happen. Various sugges- tions have been made for limiting entry. People could be kept away by high prices ; but that expedient could not be seriously entertained. The gates might be shut when the place was getting over-full ; but that would be grossly unjust to persons who had come from a distance to attend the exhibition. Let me offer one con- tribution to the solution of the problem. Whatever happens, the fullest provision must be made for visitors from overseas. I suggest, therefore, that one day a week—and if necessary even two—should be set apart and widely advertised as Overseas Day, and on those days only visitors from overseas admitted. They would have to show their passports at the turnstiles. But what is most needed is an estimate of the number the Festival site will comfortably accommodate—and I emphasise accommodate. There were 73,000 persons (plus 33) in a much more confined space at Twickenham last Saturday, but they were packed as visitors to the Exhibition
can't be. * * * *
Previous page
