MUNICIPAL PICTURES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2395, 21 February 1922, Page 2

MUNICIPAL PICTURES.

COUNCIL ADOPTS COMMITTEE’S REPORT.

MANAGER AND OPERATORCARETAKER APPOINTED.

At last night’s Borough Council meeting the Town Hall Committee reported that they approved of the conditions of appointment for oper-atoi’-custodinn as drafted by the Town Clerk, and recommended that ihe Town Clerk be appointed manager of the Municipal Pictures, to be in attendance at each picture performance when possible, and. to check all receipts. The manager to receive £4O per annum for his duties in this connection, and to make all arrangements for sale and collection of tickets, doorkeepers, pianist, etc.

Cr. Whibley, in opposing the recommendation, said that his reason for so doing was that he was of the opinion that the Council could find among the twenty-one applicants for the position of operator-custo-dian, a man who could also act as manager. It was best in running a business of this kind to have an experienced man as manager. The .Council would still have control, as the manager would act subject to the Town Hall Committee. He moved an amendment, seconded by Cr. Ross, that after considering the report of the Town Hall Committee, i lie Council decides that the Municipal Pictures be under the management of a managing-operator-cus-todian, who shall have control of the Town Hall and the management of the Council’s picture enterprise, subject to any directions and instructions that may be given him by the Town Hall Committee from time to time. He shall have the charge and custody of the 'Town 1 tall, and all furnishings and plant hi connection therewith, and shall keep same thoroughly clean, neat and orderly. He shall conduct the Municipal Pictures in a proper and businesslike manner, and at such limes as the Town Hall Committee from lime to time decides. lie shall be in attendance on all occasions

when the hull is used for skating, and shall use his best endeavours io popularise the hall. He shall keep all records required by the Town Hall Committee to be kept, and shall perform all incidental duties and services required. Tn connection with the Municipal Pictures ■ ■nterprise, the Council will appoint a ticket-seller, pianist and doorkeepers, who shall all be under the control of the managing-operator-custodian, who must immediately report anv complaints as to the cartying out of their duties to the Town Hall Committee. The manag-ing-operator-custodian shall pay into the Town Clerk as soon as the Council office is open after the receipt of same, all moneys received for admittance charges and hall rent, etc., accompanied by a proper .statement in such form as may be decided upon by the Town Hall Committee. He shall receive as remuneration for his services the sum of £4 10s Od per week and a free house. If lie shall neglect to properly and punctually perform all or any of the duties, or shall be guilty of any conduct which would render him unfit to act as managing-opera-tor-custodian, the Council may terminate the appointment without notice. but otherwise one month’s notice on either side shall be given. The Mover said that he did not think that they would get anyone to carry out the duties satisfactorily as outlined in the amendment. When the Council previously ran municipal pictures the Town Clei'k had been the manager, and had conducted the enterprise in a very busi-ness-like manner. In Mr Trueman the Council had a man of exceptional ability, who, when he undertook a duty, carried it out thoroughly. He was a man they had every confidence in. It would be a unique position giving a man sole managership of the hall. Even the gas manager was not vested with such power. He considered the Committee had done the right thing in appointing Mr Trueman manager. It was toc>_ late to add the duties of manager to the position now that applications were in.

Or. Ross said he was halfway between both amendment and motion. (Jr. Whibley was on the right lines, but had gone Loo far. They wanted Mr Trueman at the head, but also to give the manager more control than was: set out by the Committee. The difficulty in his opinion was the defining of the duties so as to keep the two from clashing. He would like to see the custodian the manager. He would then have his whole time to popularise the pictures. Mr Trueman had the Council duties to attend to, and he considered it was rather overburdening him to appoint him as manager of the pictures. Neither work could be neglected. He was inclined to appoint a manageroperator, with Mr Trueman as head to see that he carried out his duties. Tlie whole matter z-ested on the applications.

Cr. Martin opposed the report. They must run the hall economically if they were to make a success of it. He did not want to see it saddled with extra expense. The idea of putting a manager over the custodian was a farce. It appeared that whoever was appointed was not capable of running the hall. The Council might just as well put a supervisor over the gas works manager. Cr. Smith said he considered it perfectly reasonable to appoint a manager. He was sure no levelheaded man appointed as operator would complain of the appointment of a manager, Cr. Bryant gave reasons why a

manager should be appointed. The Town Hall Committee’s report was adopted, Crs Whibley and Martin voting against. The manager was instructed take over the Town Hall on Wednes- (W day morning, Ist March, subject to everything being in order. —Carried. OPERATOR. Mr H. Reid was appointed oper-ator-custodian, out of twenty-one applications.