MUNICIPAL PICTURES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2392, 14 February 1922, Page 3

MUNICIPAL PICTURES.

' BOROUGH COUNCIL TO . RESUME CONTROL. At last night’s Council meeting Crs. Bryant and Coley reported on their visit to Wellington re obtaining* supplies of films for the Town Hall during the coining season should the Council decide to take over the Hall. ' The report was 'taken in committee, and on resuming it was moved ■ by the Mayor, by Cr. Coley, that no tender for the lease of the Town Hall be accepted, and that the question of running Municipal Pictures be referred to a poll to be taken on Wednesday, 6th March, 1922, anfd that two programmes be secured for periods of suq and twelve months respectively. The Mayor, in speaking to the motion, said that the Council had received two tenders in connection with the lease of the Town Hall for running the pictures, one at £B, and another at £8 2s 6d. Mr Hamer’s tender, was. the higher.

The Council had gone fully into the consideration of tenders, and had 'unanimously decided to give Municipal Pictures a trial again. The main point was the support of the .people. He considered • it democratic to refer the matter direct to the people, as the success of the venture depended entirely on them. If people came to a poll and voted for Municipal Pictures, then they would be morally bound to support them. The matter of films could be easily got over. He considered the cost of the poll, about £8 10s, would be returned ten times over by the people. Cr. Coley said that the trouble would be that the people would not be interested enough to come out and vote.

Cr. Martin moved an amendment, seconded by Cr. Bryant, that the Council commence, running the pictures as soon as the present lease expires, and arrangements be made accordingly, also that no tender be accepted. Cr. Martin, in speaking to the amendment, said it was of no use to go to.the people. Pew would vote and even then the voting for Municipal Pictures was no guarantee that they would support them. Ho considered that the Council should -get to' work at once and run the pictures. He had no fear as to patronage. ..- I The Mayor in I’eply said that he did not feel that the Council was justified in taking the risk after the previous experience without, the sanction of the ratepayers. Cr. Bryant said that he could not understand how so much expenditure was incurred in the past. Something must have been radically wrong. The motion was lost, the Mayor and Cr. Rand voting for it. The amendment then became the motion, and was carried unanimously.

QUESTION OF OPERATOR AND CARETAKER.

Cr. Bryant moved, seconded by Cr. Walker, that Mi- D. Knewstubb be appointed operator and caretaker, at a salary' df JE4 per week, with a month’s notice of termination of appointment;'Schedule of duties to be drawn up by’ the Town Clerk. Cr, Bryant said the Council had a fortnight to go, and they must get to work right away. Cr. Martin moved as an amendment, seconded by Cr, Rand, that applications be called for the position of operator for the pictures, to .close at 4>p.m. on Monday, 20th v February, and that a special meeting be held to consider same; Town Clerk to draw up conditions of appointment, to be approved by the Town Hall Committee and Cr. Bry- ' ant, any further matters to be referred to that Committee to report at the next Council meeting. Cr. Martin said that he was opposed to ttye motion, as it would appear that the appointment was cut and dried. It was only a fair thing to call applications. They wanted the best they were able to get if they were going to make a success of the enterprise. - The motion was lost, the Mayor and Crs. Smith, Martin, Ross and Whibley voting against. The amendment then became the motion, and was carried.