THE “TALKIES."

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4490, 12 August 1930, Page 2

THE “TALKIES."

+ __ CO I' NC [ L PRO VI SION ALLY ACCEPTS TENDER.

A step in the direction of providing a solution for oue of the knottiest prohhnns which Councillors have Iheen called upon to consider durinp the last eight years (since the Council decided to undertake the control of Municipal pictures) was made at last night’s Borough Council meeting when tenders were opened in connection with the leasing of the Municipal Hall for the purpose of installing

“Inlkies." Only two tenders were received. Thev were as follows: —

Prom S. .). M. Ewart, of Havelock North: £-1 10/- per week, (£2:11 per annum). Prom X. Rlennerlmssett, Taur.align, (who made an offer to the Council for the least l of tin l Hall some time ago): £l3 per week, (£(>7(> per annum). Owing- to an injury confining Mr. Blennerhnssell to hospital In* was unable to provide the necessary sureties demanded in the tender. He offered, however, bonds in lieu thereof until he could arm ripe the ell reties.

Or. Cowley considered the latter lender would provide a good workin margin if accepted. The Mayor said it was (piite a good offer. Cr. 'Barron risked what the hall cost to run nl present.

The Clerk said that the cost worked oiil al £(MS inclusive of intes and insurance. 111 1 submitted the following figures in eonneetion with the hall disclosing- the balance as at tlic end of each yoni .liner* the Council had undertaker the control of the pictures:—lo23, £2-1-1 11/11; 1021, £350 (i/.HI; 1025, £517 (i 10; 1020, £7-12 5/3; 1027, (hall destroyed by lire), £lO7 8/fi: 1028, £B5l ili/7; 1020, £757 1-1/7: 103(1, £712 10/-. The total for tin (iplil years was £-1,2-1 fi 10/1, lull la-king- I lie figures over a period of seven years, deleting the year of the (ire, this was equivalent tr £OO 12/11 or £ll 13/1 per week.

The .Mayor said that he had made ip) his mind prior to Hu meeting that the Council would b( unwise to accept a tender less than £l3 per week.

Tr. Ross: Does the Council have to pay for the Royal under ihe proposed leas*.

The Clerk: No. Cr. Barron: Does the lessee pay the ratc-s on the Royal ?—Yes. Cr. Barron asked what the ne: profit on the hall during the last few years had been. Tlie Clerk said that taking a thiee year period the gross nr out figure had :•-■ be e,i £5/1 2 3 oepreejanor: £134 insurance. £y> ..... 7 “2. Cr. hsiTon saiu that after gotns carefully into the rip tires there ap]ieared to Ik 1 no pro tit in the tender it accepted as the lessee also took i.vci the caretaker's cottage. A t ier some further desultory dis-cu-sion Cr. S. F.. Cowley moved tli.-u Mr. Blettnerhassett's tender i.c accepted provided two acceptable sureties are forthcoming. Cr. A. R. Crowe seconded. There was very little discussion on the motion.

Cr. Ross said that it appeared to him as if the people wanted "talkies." Cr. Robinson said that most of those who had a great deal to say on tin* matter were not ratepayers.

Cr. Rand said that a number of iatepavers were of tin* opinion that they were not particular who put them in as long as they got I hem. Il would lie foolish to nnderlake the ins!aliation of "talkies" a I present. Tie was speaking of i ate|layers, not Hie "man in the street.” Many of the ratepayers I SiOnull! il would be better to conlinue showing silent films.

Cr. Cowley: We can’t do that. We are going back now. People would not talk like that if they fiii'iv Die position. The morion was then put and carried, the Mayor and Crs. .1. Koss and |{. .1. Thompson voting against