CORONATION HALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1283, 11 August 1914, Page 3

CORONATION HALL.

CHARGES TO BE REVISED

At last night’s Council meeting Cr Henderson moved and Cr Barber seconded pro forma, that the charges for the Coronation Hall for local objects be reduced to £2 and that be charged travelling companies. The mover said that a certain amount of hiring was being lost on account of the charges at present being too high. He considered local institutions should be encouraged by reducing the charges to them.

Cr Whibley said he had not seconded the motion because it was not clear enough. If it were carried it would mean that £2 would be charged local institutions whether for a dance or anything else and £3 to outside people irrespective of how long the hall would be occupied. He would prefer to see a general revision of the schedule.

Cr Coley objected to any alteration being made in the schedule of prices. There was no necessity for it.

The Mayor said there was a good deal in what Cr Henderson had said, but he had dratted his resolution hurriedly and it did not quite answer the purpose intended. Personally he considered an alteration could well be made and suggested the withdrawal of the motion and the substitution of one to revise the schedule at the next meeting. He considered it would be wise to review the prices. Cr Chrystall said that some local institutions were quite able to pay the prices at present in force and the Council would be well advised to leave things as they are. Any cases that required special treatment could be dealt with on their merits as they came up. Cr Speirs said he would vote against the motion as it stood. He did not agree with the previous speaker. They should have a fixed scale and stick to it. If any alteration was necessary they should go fully into the whole question and make a complete revision. Cr Henderson, acting on the Mayor’s suggestion, withdrew the motion and moved that consideration of Coronation Hall charges come before the next meeting of the Council with a view of revising same. This was seconded by Cr Barber and carried.