PROPOSES NEW TOWN HALL.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 292, 13 June 1929, Page 5

PROPOSES NEW TOWN HALL.

AGAIN BEFORE BOARD. Sub-committee Set Up. At the May meeting of the Putaruru Town Board it was decided to obtain legal opinion from the board’s solicitors (Messrs. Hampson, Beil and Lochhead) on the questions as to whether the board can put forward an alternative scheme to the proposed new Town Hall loan proposals and as to whether tenders could be called for the letting of the hall prior to the poll being taken. This opinion was before the board at its meeting on Monday night. As to the first point, that of an alternative scheme, the solicitors were of the opinion that if the proposals were not yet before the Local Government Loans Board this could be given effect to provided all proceedings concerned were commenced afresh. The second point was not dealt with by the solicitors, this be-

ing due to a misunderstanding. The discussion was opened by Mr. ) Yandle asMng why the matter of the loan proposals was dragging on. They were supposed to have gone before the Loans Board months ago. The chairman (Mr. McDermott) said he believed they were held up because of certain details as to the water scheme. The town clerk (Mr. Dukeson) said he understood that the chairman (Mr. G. G. Griffiths) was in touch with the Local Government Loans Board on the subject. At Mr. Barr Brown’s request the chairman (Mr. McDermott) outlined his alternative scheme as already reported. Mr. Neal was of the opinion that the second scheme of altering the hall needed no loan, for the board was raking in nearly £3OO a year, and he saw no reason why this should not be earmarked. The chairman remarked that to do “this would mean an increase in the general rates. Messrs. Yandle and Tomalin pointed out that it was too late to do this this year. Mr. Neal said that if they went in for a general hall they would have “to spend money to increase the floor space to afford adequate room for dancers. Mr. Tomalin supported the new proposed Town Hall mainly because if the board failed to provide such a building private enterprise soon | would. They would have to spend a good deal on .effecting improvements to the present hall and then it would only be a makeshift. It was not good business to spend much on the present hall. Mr. Barr Brown asked Mr. Tomalin i what he meant by a good deal of money and pointed out that Otorohanga had recently altered their Town Hall, and if they had done so why not Putaruru? The chairman said it meant the rendvertising of the whole of the proposals, together with the alternative scheme. Mr. Yandle said it was a strange policy that the scheme was advertised in a hurry and nothing further was done in the matter. If the scheme had not been sent forward to the Local Government Loans Board there would be no trouble in regard to the alternative scheme. When he voted on the scheme originally it was to go into the question and get data. The town clerk (Mr. Dukeson) pointed out that the Town Board had approved of the principle. Mr. Barr Brown asked if it would not be necessary to get data and information as to what the alternative scheme to the hall would cost. The chairman moved that a small committee be set up to go into the question of the alternative scheme, whereupon Mr. Tomalin said this was going to cost money,, for any opinion worth considering would have to be naid for. , A discussion as to the best way to alter the present hall then took place, but it was pointed out that this could be dealt with by the subcommittee.

Mr. Barr Brown seconded chairman's motion that a subcommittee be set up, and it was carried. Messrs. McDermott, Tomalin and Berr Brown being appointed as the committee.