Raetihi hall idea fails to find favour

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 501, 31 August 1993, Page 1

Raetihi hall idea fails to find favour

The recent public meeting to discuss the proposed joint effort to provide Raetihi with a town hall was not well attended, and dominated by people who were unhappy with the proposal. The meeting was called to give people the opportunity to air their views on the proposal, which would see the part of the Raetihi Cosmopolitan Club on the west side of the building set aside for the town hall. A new front entrance would be built, along with other upgrading and improvements work. The money raised by the Town Hall Committee would go to the club for a replacement games room. Town Hall Committee chairman Garrick Workman said the group would re-assess the situation, following the negative reaction to the proposal. "We don't want the community divided - we'd like to get a general endorsement, if not

unanimous support, before we proceed," said Mr Workman. "We're not going to ride roughshod over the wishes of the community." He said in his view the joint venture proposal was the best option. Concerns about the proposal included the close proximity of alcohol, with the Cosmopolitan Club bars nearby. Mr Workman said the hall would be able to be completely separated from the club and its bars. "There need not be any sign that alcohol is available (at other times) when the hall is in use." He said when the hall was in use, all access to the club would be cut off. "It would then be just like a town hall anywhere else." Mr Workman said some people wanted a hall capable of hosting badminton, basketball and other sports. He said if the community had

more money available that would be worth looking at, but that money was limited. Some suggested converting the old picture theatre, but Mr Workman said he believed that option would be too expensive, because of the costs of refurbishing. "Very few people were ever prepared to assist us with fundraising - there was just a hardcore of workers on the committee raising funds for the project. But people are now calling for a say in what happens. He said because of the hard work of the small group, the late Ian Irwin left a sizeable bequest to be used for a town hall. Ultimately the Town Hall Committee has the final say in how the money will be spent, though the decision would have to be considered by the Waimarino Community Board and the Ruapehu District Council, to ensure it matched the conditions of the Irwin Bequest.