TOWN HALL HIRE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1090, 31 August 1912, Page 2

TOWN HALL HIRE.

horticultural society WAITS ON COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Foxton Borough Council was held in the Council Chamber on Thursday night for the purpose of receiving a deputation from the Foxton Horticultural Society in connection with the application for the use ot the Coronation Hall on Wednesday and Thursday, November 21st and 22nd, 1912, and Wednesday, March sth, 1913, in which to hold their shows. There were present: His Worship the Mayor (A. J. Gibbs, Esq.), and Councillors Coley, Speirs, Adams, Greig, Whibley, Stewart and Richmond.

The deputation was briefly introduced by the Mayor. Mr Witchell, who acted as spokesman, said that the Society desired the use of the Hall on the dates mentioned, Wednesdays, in order that the shows might be opened, as usual, on the Wednesday afternoons. This day was the most suitable for the opening ceremony, being the day on which the. weekly half-holiday was observed, and consequently a larger number of people were able to be present. The members of the Society felt that if the Wednesdays were denied them the finances of the Society would suffer. He referred to the benefit of the Horticultural Society to the town ; also that it was a popular institution, and was freely supported. The Society, he said, deserved every consideration, and he asked that the use of the Hall on the 21st and 22nd November, and March sth. He hoped this request would receive favourable consideration, concluding with the remark that the future of the Society rested upon the decision of the Council. Mr Witchell also handed in a petition with xoi signatures, praying that the request should be granted. Mr Bullard, another member of the deputation, asked that the use of the supper-room should be granted on the Tuesday evening, as there was a vast amount of work to be done in preparation for the show.

The deputation then withdrew. At the request of Cr Speirs, the Mayor read the requisition tor a meeting to be convened, which was signed by Crs Speirs, Greig, Stewart, Chrystall, Adams and Richmond. It stated the business for the meeting was to receive a deputation from the Horticultural Society for the use of the Hall on the nights above mentioned, and also on the nights previous to prepare the Hall. Cr Speirs moved, and Cr Stewart seconded, that the petition presented to the Mayor calling the meeting aud asking for the use of the Town Hall on the days asked for fay the Horticultural Society, be granted. In speaking to the motion, the mover said he felt sure they all recognised the good work the Society was doing—a work that should be assisted by the Council in every way possible. In making the request lor the Hall on the days in question, they were not asking for any special favours — they were only asking for the same treatment that they had received in the past. When the scale of charges for the Town Hall was fixed the Society was specially considered, it being distinctly understood that the Society was also to have the Hall free of cost on the night previous to the shows to make the necessary preparations. The Society could scarcely do without the use of the hall on the previous night. Cr Adams pointed out that the deputation had only asked for the Hall on the days of the show, but the mover of the motion also asked for the building on the previous evenings. Cr Stewart said he understood that the motion provided for the Society having the Hall on show days only, but if it was also meant that they should get it the previous evenings, it was an entirely different matter, and he could not second it. They must consider the ratepayers, and the Council could not afford to give them the Hall and forego the pictures on the Tuesday. Cr Greig said he would second the motion. When the scale of charges for the Hall was drawn up it was understood that the Society were also to get the Hall on the evenings previous to the shows free of charge. When the loan lor the erection of the building was sanctioned, the ratepayers understood that the Hall would be available for all public purpose*, and did not expect that It would be utilised purely as a picture theatre.

As an amendment, Cr Chrystall moved that the Foxton Borough Council grant the use of the Town Hall to the Horticultural Society on Wednesday and Thursday, 20th and 21st November, and on Wednesday, March sth, 1913, with the use of the supper-room on the previous evening. Cr Coley seconded the amendment.

Cr Chrystall said that his reason for opposing the granting of the Hall on the Wednesday on the previous occasion was because he understood that as Foxton was in Fullers’ circuit the hire of the dims would have to be paid whether the pictures were shown or not. He had since been informed that it was possible to have the dims through in time to show on the Tuesday. Under those circumstances, the Hall could be granted to the Society on tb Show dates, but it was unreasonable for the Society to expect to get the Hall on the Tuesday evening also.

Cr Richmond said be would support the amendment although he disagreed with allowing the use of the supper room. The Mayor also supported the amendment. It would be impossible, he said, to grant them the Hall on the Tuesday, as the Council would have to pay for the picture films whether they used them or not. Cr Speirs replied at length, and on the vote being taken, the amendment was carried. Cr Greig then gave notice of his intention to move at the next meeting that the above motion be rescinded.