PROPOSED MUNICIPAL HALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 965, 11 March 1911, Page 3

PROPOSED MUNICIPAL HALL.

meeting of ratepayers

The meeting of ratepayers, convened by the Mayor, to discuss the loan proposal in connection with the erection of the proposed Municipal Hall was held in the Masonic Hall last night. There was an attendance of about 00 ratepayers, including a number of ladies.

In opening, the Mayor said he had convened the meeting on his own responsibility, as, according to the amendment to the Municipal Corporations Act passed last session it was not necessary to call together a meeting ot ratepayers to discuss a loan proposal. He was sure that all those present would agree that an up-to-date hall for Foxton was absolutely necessary. He had gone fully into the subject and was convinced that the proposal was a good one and be was firmly of the opinion that the hall, if erected —and he earnestly hoped it would be —would be selfsupporting. From the plans before them they would see that the hall proposed to be erected was thoroughly up-to-date. It would have a seating capacity of 700. Some ratepayers had expressed the opinion that the Council had gone “ too strong ” in asking for ,£2,800, but he did not think so. Although the proposal on which they were asked to vote was ,£2,800 the hall itself was only costing ,£2,300. The first year’s interest and the cost of raising the loan was being paid out of the loan. The .£3OO for the purchase of the adjoining section and cottage, he contended, was a real good investment, as the cottage could be set aside for the use of the caretaker, whose wages would thus be materially less than would otherwise have to be paid. Then the Government subsidy of ,£250 would Come off the ,£2,800, so that the amount bonr-fwed would really be ,£2,550. It had been stated that the subsidy from the Government would only be paid on moneys subscribed, but this was not so He read a memo, from the Hun. Buddo, Minister for Internal Affairs, in which he stated that the subsidy of ,£250 was payable on moneys expended by the Council, so there could be no doubt whatever but what the money would be available. There was no doubt in his mind that halls should be owued by municipalities and not by private individuals. The ratepayers should get all the profits earned. By the Council erecting the hall it would be under municipal control and would thus be kept up-to-date. In the past they had had occasion to complain of the state of the hall, but had no remedy. He referred to the mistake that had been made when the gas proposals were first before the ratepayers. The “croakers” then talked about the increase of rates and as a result the loan was not carried and everybody knew the consequences. It meant that the people had to pay away ,£2OOO more thau should have been paid, and interest on this amount for 25 years would be £ 3OOO, through listening to people who were always harping on the increase of rates. He urged the ratepayers not to make the same mistake on the present occasion. He said he respected the honest opinion of any ratepayer who objected to increase of rates provided it could be proved that a proposal would increase same, but he had no respect for the opinion of the man who continually talked Increase of rates without going fully into the subject. He fell sure in this case that no rate would need to be collected. He hoped the arguments he intended to put torward would convince all those present on that point and that they would go away and endeavour to influence others to support the proposal. (Applause). As to the prospect of the hall paying its way he did not think there was any doubt. About a mouth ago the Council had received a communication from a picture company enquiring about the lease of the hall for one night a week, and a fortnight later another firm had signified its willingness to take the hall for two nights a week. In the latter case it would, at £2 per night, bring in £2OB per year, which would be more thau sufficient to cover the interest etc. on the whole loan. When it is also taken into consideration the number of other companies that would visit Foxton, and the local shows, it would be seen that the prospects were very bright indeed. (Applause) Personally he did not know that the erection 01 the hall would do him any good from a business point oi view, but he was looking at the proposal as a citizen, and in the best interest of the community as a whole, (applause) There was no doubt that with a good hall better companies would visit the town, and this would no doubt be the means of attracting a large number of people from the surrounding district, it was a very hard matter to get at an estimate of the revenue, but he was of opinion that the following would be somewhere near the mark: Picture shows, one night a week at £2 ros ,£l3O, other visiting companies ,£IOO, and local entertainments £3O, making a total of of ,£260. The interest on the loan would run into .£l5O, caretaker say ,£lO in addition to free house, lighting £2O, insurance £23 and incidentals ,£2O, giving a total of ,£225. This would leave a credit of ,£55. Even allowing that the revenue would be ,£35 less than estimated there would still be no need for a rate. During the day he had gone through the

rate roll to see if there was any justification for the man who was continually talking increased rates. He found there were 238 names on the roll, the unimproved value of whose property was under £SO. Now, if there was a loss of ,£SO per year on the hall the difference it would make to these 238 ratepayers would be from threepence to ninepence each year. Then there were 100 ratepayers whose properties were valued from ,£SO to ,£ 100. The highest amount in increased rates that any of these would have to pay on a loss of .£SO would be one shilling and twopence per annum. He did not go into the larger property owners as he was of opinion that those who could afford to own property of the unimproved value of over ,£IOO could afford to pay more. In his opinion the man who was always talking increase of rates should be exported to the blackblocks where he could do no harm. He thought everyone would agree that they were submitting a sound proposal and ratepayers should not let the opportunity pass. Since he had been in office the loan proposals submitted to the ratepayers had not met with much success, but he hoped they would not strike this one out. He had not misrepresented facts and he | would be quite prepared to invest j the amount asked for himself. | If the loan proposals were thrown | out he understood a hall was to be erected by private enterprise. One prominent business man had made the complaint that if a hall were erected the entertainments would interfere with business. That man was not looking at the question very broadly. The speaker had pointed out to him that even if the Council did not erect a hall private individuals would and the same conditions would apply. In conclusion the Mayor asked those present to look at the matter as citizens and he felt sure- that they would then carry the loan by a thumping majority. His Worship on resuming his seat was loudly applauded. Cr Adams said that the Mayor had dealt so fully with the subject that there was nothing left for him to say. Pie urged upon those present to record their votes as citizens. One of the strongest arguments in favour of a municipal hall was the fact that a private body was working against the proposal in order that if the loan is thrown out they will be able to erect a hall themselves. Mr Jorgenson and Cr Speirs explained the plans of the proposed building to those present. The Mayor thanked those present for their attendance and attention. He felt sure that the loan would be carried. He asked | them not to take any notice of the rate increase bogey, and said that the man who was always harping on this was uuprogressive and should not be there. Cr Stewart said there were no doubt a number in the hall who were opposed to the scheme, and if so they should have the manliness and straightforwardness to state their objections to those present.

The Mayor invited any opponents to take the platform, but there was no response. On the motion of Mr Horublow a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the Mayor for having convened the meeting and so lucidly explaining the proposals, and also the Councillors for the interest shown.