TOWN HALL BOOKINGS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1790, 1 July 1913, Page 4

TOWN HALL BOOKINGS.

IS THE METHOD CORRECT f Councillor John Fuller is said to 1 have | suggested to the Finnnco Committee of tho City Council that no one should !« permitted to book dates for cither of tho Town Halls more than three wetks ahead of a gathering. Councillor Fuller wishes it mado quito clear that his suggestion is that no ono should l>e allowed to book single dates piore than a certain time ahead, to be fixed at, eav, three or six weeks. Th'ft a'easim' fttfiilint'iprovision is that people who , might bo prepared fjo book ono of tho halls for a long season find that dates are picked out hero and there months ahead which absolutely prevent them getting, a clear booking. .Tho annoyance to which a responsible management can bo put to under the present system of booking was fully dealt with by Mr. Leo D. Chateau, of tho "Now Dandies," in a recent loiter to the Financo Committee. Already they had to givo up their opening date hero to make way for a reception to Miss Mary Proctor, anil every other Saturday night they have to leave tho Concert Chamber to enablo tho Savago Club to givo its entertainment. Mr. Chateau now finds that an effort was being made by the Savngo Club to Ixiok tho'Concert Chamber for thirteen alternate Saturday evenings next winter, and it only needs another local club to dol tho same, and all the Saturday nights will bo gone, and they are'always worth' up to ,£2O moro than any week night. Mr. Chateau maintains that this mode of lotting, whilst beneficial to tho few concerned, is not in tho interests of, the ratepayers, as a manager will hesitate booking a long season, when ho finds that tho eyes have been picked out of it. Ho urges that if tho halls aro to bo run on a sound commercial basis, tho system of Iwoking needs amending. "In conclusion," said Mr. Chateau, "I would'like to point out that Mr. Branscombo was tho first entrepreneur to talco your hall for any long season, and that during all tho seasons before that this social club was well content to confine its gatherings, to an adequate room elsewhere. This coining season in Wellington is a matter of comparatively slight importance ,to us. Tliero is E much greater matter involved. With Saturday , nights picked out, it will not pay us or any other managers to take tho Concert Chamber even for occasional weekly seasons. If this arrangement is made, tho council is simply shutting out professional entertainers, and it is. just as well that tho council should realise tho position."