THE CORONATION HALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 1091, 9 January 1912, Page 3

THE CORONATION HALL.

CARETAKER’S SALARY,

At last night’s Council meeting the Town Clerk reported that the caretaker of the Hall had applied to Mm, as manager, for an increase in salary, and he had promised to bring, the matter before the Council. He now recommended that his salary be increased to per annum. Cr Stewart thought the request for an increase in salary was a reasonable one as the work had greatly increased since he applied tor the position. In fairness he thought the Council should give him an increase, but seemed to him to be a rather big jump. Cr Gibbs asked if the work had increased since the opening of the hall. The Mayor said that when applications were invited the intention was to run picture shows one night a week, and at that time they thought 10s per night for running the show was a fair thing. The picture shows were now being run on two nights every alternate week and he thought that the caretaker at least had a right to be paid xos lor each extra night. He said the caretaker was justified in asking for the increase and he would be prepared to support giving an additional The salary now being paid was a very meagre one and Mr McArtney had given every satisfaction. Cr Coley said that the caretaker Lad only had the job for about three mouths and already wanted a rise. He tendered for the work according to specifications and he considered he should go on at the present salary for at least twelve months. He failed to see why any increase at all should be granted. . Cr Speirs recognised that the caretaker at present employed was well qualified for the position, and was the only applicant vvho bad had previous experience. The Council had found him fully up to his work and he was also very obliging, and was altogether a most suitable 111.1,1, and the Council might wa.ii .1 long time before they would get another to carry out the work as well. He was prepared to support an increase to • £l2O as asked for. Cr Chrystall said he would be in favour of paying xos lor every picture entertainment over one a week, but would not support auy further increase. Cr Gibbs agreed with Cr Chrystall that the caretaker should , be paid xos for each additional picture show, but no more. He should go on at that for 12 months. He was dead against auy other increase. Cr Greig said that when applications for the position were invited the Council was not able to clearly specify exactly what was required. When the present caretaker’s application was accepted they did not - know what sort of man they were getting, but after three months they find that he is thoroughly competent. He had undoubtedly helped to make the picture shows the success they had turned out, and the Council should not consider so much the price he tendered, but should give a man a reasonable salary for the services he is rendering. The amount he was being paid at present was a miserable pittance. Personally he was of opinion that the job was worth £l5O per annum, but after only three months he was not prepared to go to that extent, but was agreeable to an increase to and if everything went along satisfactorily he would then favour making the salary as requested. Cr Richmond said there was no doubt the caretaker was worth more than 30s a week, as he was a first-class man with pictures and machinery. He would support an increase to £IOO. The Mayor thought ,£IOO at the present stage would be satisfactory to the caretaker. He was a real good man, and it was doubtful if they could get another to equal j him. \ Cr Coley said that the Hall was i having a good run, and although | he didn’t think the caretaker was getting enough, he tendered for the work at the price, and should -go on for twelve months, Cr Gibbs said he believed they had a good man,- but he applied for the job on the specifications | and the general opinion seemed to be that he should be paid xos for every picture night over one a week, but no more. They should not give anything away from the Hall, and should, iu his opinion, keep to their contract conditions for at least six months, Cr Speirs said that he had heard , outside that the caretaker intended asking for an increase in salary, and he had interviewed him and suggested that the matter be held over until the end of tbe financial year. The caretaker said that he had been offered another position at a much higher salary, but had no desire to leave Foxton, and would be satisfied if the Council would giant the increase asked for. Cr Greig said that no doubt when the caretaker tendered for the'position he did not know exactly what it was worth and now, alter three months’ experience, he found that he had put in too low a ■ .price. He considered that under the circumstances he had every right to ask for a fair wage. He was opposed to having a man working for the Council at a salary less than what he was worth. He moved that the Town Clerk’s report be approved with / . exception that the Hall care ■ j'.V'taker’s salary-be raised to x> instead of £l2O as recommended. v!£h&motion was seconded by the V an ' amendment Cr Gibbs .

moved and Cr Chrystall seconded, that in respect to the Town Clerk’s report recommending that the hall caretaker’s salary be increased, that instead of an increase in salary he be paid xos per night for all nights that he has been employed in excess of one night a week.

On tbe amendment being put it was lost, Crs. Gibbs, Chrystall and Coley supporting it and tbe.Mayor and Crs. Greig, Speirs, Richmond and Stewart voting against it. The motion was then put and carried.

BENEEIT PICTURE SHOW EOR PALMERSTON HIGH SCHOOL.

, A letter was read from Mr J. A. Nash, Mayor of Palmerston N., and chairman of the Board of Governors of the District High -School, stating that it was found that, notwithstanding the handsome subsidy received from the Government towards the cost of the District High School, it was found that a considerable sum of money was still necessary to pay off the balance owing on the building and asking that fbe Council should put ou a benefit picture entertainment in aid of same.

The Mayor said that the High School was a district one and was open to scholars from Foxton, aud he considered it was only right that the ,Council should give assistance in a small way. Cr Coley said that the local school would also like a benefit show as they were pretty hard up. Cr Greig said that to accede to the request from Palmerston would be creating a precedent.

Cr Stewart moved aud Cr Chrystall seconded, that the Council give a picture show in aid of the Palmerston North District High School as asked for by the Mayor aud Chairman of Committee, the net proceeds to be devoted to this object. Cr Coley said he believed iu helping schools. The Foxtou Committee was short of money and he wanted to know if they could get a refund of the £2. xos paid for the hall in connection with the recent concert. If the Council desired to assist education they should first help the local school. Cr Gibbs said he would support the motion if the usual charge for the hall were taken out of the proceeds. The local school had to pay for the hall aud the Palmerston people should also have to pay for it. Cr Speirs didn’t think the Council should part with any funds from the hall, at least not until the end of the financial year. Cr Greig was not in favour at the present early stage of the hall’s existence of giving benefits to anything. Had they asked for the free use of the hall he would perhaps have supported it. Whilst appreciating the object for which it was intended he was against giving benefits until they knew the hall was a permanent paying concern.

Cr Stewart explained that in his motion he intended that the hall hire should be paid out of the proceeds.

Cr Richmond was against giving a free picture show so early in the history of the hall, especially to other towns. Palmerston had done nothing for Foxton. Cr Chrystall said the High School was of benefit to Foxtou as local children could attend it.

The Mayor said the school was open to children from Foxton and he did not think that the argument as to whether Palmerston would do anything for Foxton entered into the discussion at all. It would not cost the Council anything as they would not take an ordinary picture night, but would make this an extra night. The motion was carried. LOR DRILL PURPOSES.

Sergeant-Major Dovey wrote applying- for the supper room and passage ou Tuesday, January 16, and fortnightly thereafter on the terms quoted by the Council —7s 6d per night. the elections. Correspondence between the Returning Officer and the Council in connection with the charge made tor the hall for the recent election was read. The first letter from the Returning Officer complained of the charge made, £5, which he considered was exorbitant. He understood the usual charge for the supper room was 7s 6d per day. To this letter a reply was sent advising that the charge of £5 covered both ballots, but if desired they could make the charge at the rate of 7s 6d per day from the date of the first ballot until the screens used’ in connection with the elections were removed.

A subsequent letter from the Returning Officer was to the effect that he considered £2 5s would be a fair charge for both days, aud enclosing a voucher for that amount. To this the Mayor instructed the Town Clerk to reply staling that the charge was £5 and nothing less would be accepted. It was pointed out that last election the Council Chamber. was used lor which £4 4s was paid. It was decided on the motion of Gr Greig seconded by Cr Chrystall, that the action of the Mayor in connection with the charge for the Coronation Hall on election day be confirmed.