Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1923. COUNCIL CHAMBERS RECONSTRUCTION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 2543, 15 February 1923, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1923. COUNCIL CHAMBERS RECONSTRUCTION.

| THE Borough Council lias de- | aided to take steps to erect Munici--1 pal Chambers to replace the struc- | ture destroyed aland lln'ee years ago. The building destroyed was a wooden structure and was ereej ted in l!)()(i at a total cost of £1,300 : 15s. The insurance on same reproJ seats the amount in hand for the . erection of the new building. The Council has restricted the amount of ! the new building to .Cl,loo, leaving j (lie balance for necessary fnrnish- ! "mgs. The new building, wbicli is to ! be ('onstructed in brick or concrete, will not include library and public reading room or living rooms. The elimination of tlie latter is justified and the general opinion is that the reading room and public library should be housed in a separate building. The point which I lie Council must not overlook, however, is that portion of the reconstruction 'fund in hand belongs to Ihe library and reading room, which was in--1 eluded in the loan proposal sanctioned by the ratepayers. Perhaps it would be as well for the sub-com-mittee to look further into this mat- ' ter before the Council commits itself to the building scheme. We ' question whether the amount allo--1 eated. for the erection of the Borj ouglr Council Chamber is sufficient, j To compare the cost: of the building i with the construction of the lire station is ridiculous. The lat ter lias ! been treated in a very parsimonious 1 spirit by the Mayor, who, if lie had had his way would have sanctioned a building in wood and iron on a very modified scale. In ‘connection with the erection of: Municipal Chambers, it is to be hoped, for the sake of the town’s welfare, that a I more generous outlook will he | evinced by the Mayor and that the Council will give the whole matter 4 veW careful consideration.