THE MUNICIPAL PICTURES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1078, 3 August 1912, Page 3

THE MUNICIPAL PICTURES.

PRICES OF ADMISSION.

MOTION FOR REDUCTION

Cr Adams again brought up the question of a reduction in the prices of admission to the municipal pictures, ac last night’s Council meeting, and asked ir the meeting could deal with it. The Mayor said that on the notice convening the meeting “general” had been inserted, and therefore any matter that Councillors wished to bring up could be dealt with.

Cr Stewart thought that is 6d, is, and 6d would be reasonable prices to charge. Cr Coley suggested is upstairs and 6d downstairs.

The manager of the pictures (Mr Fraser) said he thought the Council would be making a mistake in reducing the prices; they wuuid uj “.auing the goose that laid tne golden egg.” In any case they should wait until the pictures had been running for twelve months and see what the returns were. A great deal had been said about an opposition hall, but he did not think there was anything in it. If there was an opposition show, however, they could light it. Cr Adams did not agree with what Mr Fraser had said. He had heard on fairly good authority that another hall was going to be erected, and it the prices charged in same were lower then it would be well patronised. Ratepayers, as well as non-ratepayers, who objected to the prices charged at the Coronation Hall would attend the new show, and once they started going it was not likfely tUey would return to the municipal snow, even if a reduction was afterwards made. They would continue to patronise the hall that brought the prices down. At the reduced prices the returns would not be much less, if any, than at present as a much larger crowd would go. Thejargument had been raised that ratepayers would patronise the Municipal show in preference to a privately owned one, even it the latter’s prices were lower, but he did not think so. Even if they had to pay the full rale on the ball it would be nothing in comparison to what they would save by attending the cheap show. He moved that the Town Hall prices for picture entertainments be reduced to one shilling for circle and sixpence lor auditorium. Cr Whiuley seconded the motion. He said Cr Adams had covered practically the wnole' ot the ground, but there was one other point. A great many people attended on Saturday nights only at present who would, it the prices were reduced, also attend on the Wednesday nights. A reduction in prices would not mean any material decrease in the returns, but the result would be that instead of of at present playing to a small house on the Wednesday night, the attendance would always be good. A large number of people could not now alford to attend oftener than say fortnightly, but at the reduced price these people would come weekly. Also a large number of outside people would attend and he felt sure that the Council would lose nothing by making a reduction. Cr Richmond supported the motion as it was time the prices were brought down. Once previously when he mentioned this matter the Mayor had stated that the Hall Committee, comprised of himself, Cr Adams and the manager, would consider the • matter- Both the Mayor and Cr Adams had then expressed themselves as in favour of a reduction, but none was made. They bad allowed the Town Clerk to dominate them.

The Mayor objected to the latter remark. He allowed no one to. dominate him. In any case the Hall Committee wac set up to deal with matters in connection with the building, etc. The question of prices was purely a matter for the Council. He said he favoured a reduction and had done so all along. However, he thought now it would be best to wait until the pictures had been running for twelve months and then to again discuss the question. Once they reduced the prices they would never be able to get them up again. In the meantime they might make some concession by reducing the price of admission to the stalls to one shilling. The Mayor ruled that notice would have to be given to reduce

the prices as it was practically undoing something that had been done pieviously.

Cr Adams said he would move the motion at the next ordinary meeting.

The Mayor then moved that in view of the fact that the hall will have been running twelve months in October, it is desirable that a year’s balance sheet be presented when the reduction in prices ca n then be discussed. Cr Colev seconded the motion and it was carried.

Cr Adams gave notice to move at the next meeting that the motion be rescinded.