HALL.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4396, 29 March 1922, Page 4

HALL.

THE ANNUAL MEETING. A SUCCESSFUL YEAR. The first annual meeting in connection with the Ngatea Public Hall was held on Saturday evening, Mr G. T. Davidson occupying the chair. There was only a fair, attendance of members. Mr Davidson, reporting on the year’s work, said the outgoing committee was installed, by the trustees, on February 9th, 1921. Mr Walton was the first secretary, but he had found the work too much for him, and Mr I. B. Macken was elected in his stead. Mr Macken had since leftthe -district,, and the outgoing secretary, Mr Mellor, had been appointed to fill the vacancy. AH had proved themselves reliable men. The committee had enlarged the hall, which had been found to be too small. An overdraft had been refused by the bank at* Thames.. The committee's representatives had then gone to Paeroa, where tlhey had met' with good support, and were able to obtain th--' timber and have it carted to Ngatea. The hall trustees were consulted regarding the scheme, and their consent obtained. Mr W. I. Clare had then been authorised to proceed with the work, which -he had done in a most efficient manner. During the year Mr H, Rowntr.ee , had been appointed pianist for the. committee’s weekly dances, and -Mr Rr Shaw caretakep for the building) Continuing, Mr Davidson thanked the press-, especially the “Hauraki Plains Gazette,” whose representative had attended practically every meeting the committee had had. The outgoing committee had been a great help'to the speaker as chairman, and for that he thanked those gentlemen. He then asked the secretary to read the balance-sheet, which was the first to his knowledge .drawn up ip connection with the Wil.

Mr Mellor read the balance-sheet, extracts from which have already appeaed in the “ Gazette.” x ‘ On the motion ofi Messrs D, A. Vincent and A. Cleaver the report and balance-sheet were adopted. Mr Cleaver said the report . and balancesheet ' reflected great credit on the outgoing committee. FOOTBALLERS AND THE HALL. Mr Vincent on behalf of the Football Club asked for a reduction ot hall rent as the club’s finances ' were very low. The dub, he explained, would be entertaining, visiting teams in the hall, and the young men who played, football had a great deal of expense in travelling. K

Mr Davidson said that the matter was for the outgoing committee to decide. He mentioned that when •smoke concerts were held in the hall .liquor was often spilt on -the floor, and though disinfectant may have been used to clean out the hall the smell of the liquor was present for days after; Mr Vincent said that most! of the trouble in smoke concerts was -that the containers leaked, and he moved a recommendation' - to the incoming committee that any body using the hall for smoke concerts must keep the liquid containers in the hall kitchen and that sawdust should be sprinkled on the. floor. The motion found a seconder in Mr Hayward, and was carried. LODGE REQUIREMENTS 1 .

-Mr Vincent, on behalf of a lodge which was about to be formed in Ngatea, said the lodge was a benefit institution, and asked that a small charge only should be made for the lodge’s monthly use of the hall. The lodge would be composed of mostly young men. For any special occasions they would naturally expect; to pay the full rate. The stage only would be required for the ordinary meetings. , Mr Davidson said that for any institution which was for the benefit of the district it was 'the policy of the committee to make as small a chai ge as possible. He would recommend to the committee that the charges for the lodge meetings be as small as possible. HALL GUARANTEE. Mr Davidson moved that new committeemen should sign the guaiantee for the hall. There were some men who were not committeemen who had already signed it. He thought it should be one of the duties of a committeeman to sign the guarantee, Mr Vincent thought Mr Davidson’s proposal did not cover sufficient ground, and that new committeemen should be obliged to sign the guarantee. Mr McDuff, seconding Mr Davidson’s motion, said that new committeemen should not be forced to sign, but they should be recommended bo. do so. The motion was carried. (Continued in next column.)

ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The following officers were elec-cd for the ensuing y,e;ar: Secretary and treasurer, Mr C. G« Mellor (re-elect-ed) ; committee, Messrs G, T. Davidson, W. McDuff, S. Phillips, W. I. Clare, D. A. Vincent, W. S. Hayward, and R. E. Jamieson. At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr Davidson was re-elected chairman. Mr Clare said he would advocate the formation of a ladies’ committee and work up a bazaar io augment the hall funds. He also suggested that if an extra portion of land were obtained at the back Gf the hall-it should be used as a horse yard. A traffic bridge and a foot bridge should also be built across the drain.