Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1926. THE NEW TOWN HALL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3038, 20 May 1926, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, MAY 20, 1926. THE NEW TOWN HALL.

TO some people it may appear that the Borough Council has been somewhat precipitate in accepting a tender for the re-erection of the Town Hall before obtaining the sanction of the ratepayers for a loan to supplement the insurance money from the structure destroyed, and to provide the necessary sum for the new building. The circumstances, however, are entirely different from that of a loan proposal for 'a new work. The Town Hall was and is recognised as a necessary public building and its reconstruction considered essential. This point is, we can confidently state, generally recognised. Therefore the Council in calling for and accepting a tender have obtained definite information for the ratepayers as to the amount required to supplement .the money in hand for the re-construction of the hall. The ratepayers will be called upon to sanction a loan of £6OOO, which sum (supplemented by Ihe insurance money on deposit) is considered more than sufficient to complete and thoroughly equip a building which will not only be an ornament to the town, but will meet public requirements lor many years to come. The Council will only uplift what is actually required of the loan money. It may be asked whether the interest and sinking fund in repayment • of the loan will add to the burden of rates? If the revenue from the old Town Hall is any criterion, then the ratepayers need have no apprehension on that point. In fact, given the capable management, as obtained in past- years, the new structure should not only be selfsupporting, but revenue-producing. The Mayor and Councillors and Town Clerk are to be commended for the time and careful consideration given to the subject, and that the ratepayers will endorse their actions on the loan poll is a foregone conclusion.