OUR TOWN HALL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 35, 6 February 1912, Page 5

OUR TOWN HALL.

“WHY IS IT THAT THEY PASS US ' ! :. iBX Y : • . COMMITTEE TO REPORT;. Last night the Borough Council met to discuss ithekquestion of buying l ia ( road roller, arid at the conclusion of this special business, other matters were brought up. Councillors were chatting informally about the errors of driving horses through the borough, when Councillor Ward rose to his feet and brought up the question of Mesrss. J. C. Williamson's companies passing l through Stratford. •* “I thifik^«* S IW said, “that 1 the Town' Hall Coriimittee should bring down a report. ! > What’s ■ the' reason I ' heard that they'were •'passirig through Stratford because I the stage room was inadequate. 'Perhaps they did not advertise it enough. f ■ • ! A Councillor: The correspondence we’ve had will explain it. Councillor McAllister: “I think it’s a jolly good job.” • The rest of the Councillor’s remarks were not plainly audible, but he was understood to say that the companies only took money out of the town. To which Cr. Paget replied that it was’ better than spending 10s to go to Eltham. Councillor King said that the reason why the good shows were going to Eltham was that inducements were put in their way. “One gentleman buys the house, and, of course, the company has no liabilities. I take it, if it is a question of reducing our tariff, and the sooner we reduce it the better. It is better to get something than get nothing a V all.” Cr. Paget: “1 don’t think it’s a question of tariff. I think you all agree that a full report should lie brought down. The reason why we are passed by is because the policy of the Council in the past has been a policy of pin-pricks. Continuing,. Councillor Paget said > that resolutions had been passed * and the Council had tried to dictate to the companies what they should charge. .If they charged over six shillings,' the Council put a prohibitive price on the hall. Good companies would not stand that; they preferred to control their own prices. He ■thought this was the real reason why the companies passed by Stratford, or else it had a good deal to do with it. The resolutions were not, 1 of course, passed by (the present, Council. The Mayor: “I quite agree that something should be done.” Councillor Ward: let' the Town Hall Committee furnish a report on the matter.” The Mayor: “I don’t think the Council dictated what they should charge. In bringing the motion down' this Council only copied other towns—older towns that do the same thing. Whether we are' charging too much is another thing. I think myself that if a play comes here that charges 10s they should pay a little more for the use of the hall, when they take a lot of money out of' the place. The Town Clerk said that one of the agents passing through Stratford had informed him that the reason was that Stratford people would not '“book.” Cr. Healy asked that they should bring down a report which would , m show why the picture shows did not show hero. Cr Paget: You’ve lost them through overcharging. Cr. Mbrison: “I don’t think we need worry.” Cr. King: “I think it is only a matter of time before there will no travelling shows at all.” ’ Cr. Paget; “How do you make that out?” Cr. King went on, to explain that the picture shows would ruin the theatrical business, a view with which Cr. Paget did not concur. Cr. Ward’s motion that the question be submitted to the Town Hall Committee for a report to be furnished on Monday night was then carried j unanimously. 1