PROPOSED MEMORIAL HALL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 567, 17 September 1920, Page 1

PROPOSED MEMORIAL HALL

TUAKAU MEETING. Speaking in reference to the proposed memorial hall loan proposal at Tuakau, the chairman of the Town Board (Mr. Dynes Fulton) said the board had taken steps to communicate with the Prime Minister with a view to getting a subsidy, but so far Mr. Massey had not replied. He did not know whether they would be successful or not. The £7OOO included the acquirement of the land and everything. Provision had been made for a reading and card room entirely for returned soldiers. This would be absolutely controlled by a committee of returned men. It was also proposed to erect a brass tablet in the hall containing the names of all men from Tuakau who had made the supreme sacrifice in the great war. They possessed a roll of honour bearing the names of all the men who went forward. Provision was also made for a public reading and rest room. The interest and ! sinking fund on £7OOO would be £437 | 10s, and for this a special rate of 1 j l-Od . in tlhe £ would have _J.o be struck. - The - Tate would probably 1 have to be levied for the first year j only to pay charges and establish a : working fund. The estimated rej ceipts totalled £SOO. Two shops could [ be let at a guarantee of £1 per week each, but he thought more could be I obtain—£lo4 per annum. Proceeds from lettings of the hall for pictures £156 per annum; lettings for dances, theatricals, etc., based on one night per week, £156 per annum; rent as Town Board rooms, £52 per annum; lettings for meetings and sundry purposes, £32. Total, £SOO. This was a conservative estimate, but he was confident the hall would be selfsupporting. The library would carry a yearly Government subsidy. If they collected rents, etc., according to the estimate of receipts, they would have a credit of £63 per annum. He contended the hall would be self-supporting, and this being so the board would not require to levy the special rate of 1 l-10d in the £. The proposal was a good one, and deserved the support of the ratepayers. He was of the opinion that a good hall would be the means of attracting theatrical companies to Tuakau. Tuakau had been well served jvith the old hall, and at all times the proprietor, Mr. Revell, had been most courteous. Tuakau was the only place between Taumarunui and Auckland that did not possess a decent hall. They were lacking in this respect, but progressive in every other respect. (Hear, hear.) In answer to a question, Mr. Fulton said the upkeep and insurances would be small because it would either be a brick or ferro-concret structure.

Mr Boyle asked if Mr Fulton would be in favour of leasing the hall to a private company for a number of years. Mr, Fulton: No. He instanced the case of a town where the hall was owned privately, and it could "be hired only when the proprietor did not require it for his own use. (Hear. Hear.. Mr. Boyle agreed with the chairman, and said he could see that in a few years the hall would be a paying proposition. In answer to Mr. Mungall the reason the price was so high, the chairman said he could not compare the price of erecting a hall at present with the price of a structure erected two years ago, or even a few months ago. Mr. Sim heartily supported the proposal, as did other speakers. The matter of the hall was dropped, and the chairman allowed questions to be asked of him concerning the actions of the board during its term of oflice.