HALL FOR ST. CLAIR

Evening Star, Issue 22451, 23 September 1936, Page 2

HALL FOR ST. CLAIR

EFFORT TO FILL LONG-FELT NEED MEETING OF RESIDENTS APPROVES PROPOSAL A meeting of residents of fet. Clair last night decided to take steps to cany out a proposal made by the School Committee to have the present school gymnasium enlarged and improved at an approximate cost of £1,200 in order to meet the requirements both ot the school children and of the residents of the district for a larger and more up-to-date hall. The proposal, if carried into effect, will fill a long-felt need in the district. Mr R. C. Love, chairman of the bt. Clair School* 1 Committee .outlined the reasons for callinnr the meeting. In the first place, he said, there was a great need for an assembly hall at the school so that all the pupils could be brought together on occasions and so that much larger attendances could be accommodated at school concerts and break-up ceremonies. There was also, a great need in the district for a hall large enough to serve the requirements of the community, and he hoped other organisations in the suburb would assist in the project. In giving details of the proposed new ball. Mr Love said it would be 60ft square, and would cost approximately £1,200. Provision would be made for two badminton courts, from which it was hoped additional revenue would be raised. He appealed for the support of local organisations and residents in the endeavour to fill a long-felt want in St. Clair. Mr U. J. Anderson said there was a need for a hall that would properly meet the requirements both ol the school children and of tbo adult residents of the district. St. Clair was one of tbo few localities that did not have a ball of a size sufficiently large to meet requirements. Tbo School Committee could not raise money on security, but it could co-operate with an incorporated body, such _ as a St. Clair school parents’ association, in tbo letting and control of the ball. With this association it could issue debentures of £5 each, which could be raised from residents of the district. The dif ferent organisations in St. Clair could Mr Anderson said, arrange for the rais ing of these debentures. The scheme was not a commercial proposition, but it was certainly one that would be of considerable benefit to St. Clair. If was nothing short of a disgrace to tin district that its social organisations had to yo to other suburbs to hold fnne tions. In answer to a emery, Mr Anderson said that when all the debentures were paid hack the incorporated society would be disbanded, and the hall would go to the Kducation Department, but any revenue from the letting of the building would go to the School Committee to ho soent on the welfare of the children. He was certain that there I would be no difficulty in paying hack the debentures, as the hall would he in] groat demand. I

Representatives of various organisations in the district all snoke in favour of the proposal to provide a larger hall. On the motion of Mr Anderson it was decided to adopt, the scheme and to take steps to nut it into operation. A small number of those present wore asked to co-operate with the School Committee completing the details of the scheme.