BUSINESS V. PATRIOTISM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 261, 23 July 1918, Page 8

BUSINESS V. PATRIOTISM

TOWN HALL BOOKINGS. Saturday is admittedly the best show night in the week in Wellington, as it is in most other places. The universal half-holiday on that day has been a contributing cause, and the G o'clock closing of hotels has accentuated the fact. The Wellington City Council has always tacitly admilled (he value of Saturday night by differentiating between the charges for hiring the Town Hall and Concert Chamber between week nights and Saturday nighls. As far as professionals are concerned the week-night charge for the big hall is ■£15 and tK for Saturday night, whilst the week-night charge for the Concert Chamber is M and £i 10s. on Saturday nights. A good many applications have been received during the present winter for the use of the Town Hall on Saturday evenings, and there have been occasions when managers would have engaged it for seasons but for the fact that the best night in the week is cut out, owing to ils being reserved for soldiers' weekend dances. One representative of a big firm would have engaged the hall for a week, but, finding that lie could not get the Saturday, had to make other arrangements. It is the council's business whether it runs lli»«p balls for business or sentiment. The Mayor is solidly of the opinion that (he reserving of tho big hall for the soldiers on Saturday evenings has been a rpally recreative and beneficial service. The soldiers never fail to attend in laree number.-:, and that tlicy enjoy the privilege of having a place io fake their ladv friends to on "leave .night" is amnly demonstrated by the crowds that fill the dancing space every Saturday night.