NINTH OF DECEMBER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 284, 28 November 1914, Page 2

NINTH OF DECEMBER.

WHO HAS THE TOWN HALL? A special meeting of the Borough Council was held last night, when there were present: The Mayor (Mitt 7 . P. Kirkwood), and Crs. It. McK. Morison, J. B. Richards, J. W. Boon, T. Reader, J H Thompson, N. J. King and J. Masters. Messrs H. E. Lawrence and W. H. H. Young waited on the Council in reference to the letting of the Town Hall on December 9th. Mr Lawrence said the deputation was waiting on the Council on behalf of the Reform League. He said he was giving facts which had been sworn to on affidavit. Mr Young had pencilled the Town Hall from December 9th to 11th, putting his initials under the dates. Mr Young reported the pencilling of the hall to the committee as far back as October 28th. Last Saturday another person called on Mr Diamond and claimed the hall for December 9th. Mr Diamond turned up the booking diary and pointed to the initials "W.H.H.Y." This person said: "Oh yes, that's W. H. Hawkins." Mr Diamond accepted this person's cheque for the hall. Mr Young called later and drew attention to the error which had been made, but Mr Diamond then and since refused to accept Mr Young's cheque. This second person had admitted to two other persons, a fortnight before, that he knew Mr Young had pencilled the hall for December 9th. Therefore, said Mr Lawrence, the Council had before it clear evidence that Mr Young was the first in the field. On those facts he thought he had a right to call on the Council to see that Mr Young got the hall. Mr Young said he had called on the lessee of the hall at 8.30 on the morning on which the other person had booked the hall. He pointed out to Mr Diamond that his initials were on the date of December 9th, and Mr Diamond scratched out Mr Hawkins' name and inserted his (Mr Young's). Subsequently, when MiLawrence called to pay for the hall, he was informed that it had already been let to the other person. Cr. Thompson: What are the affidavits?

Mr Lawrence: I have given the gist of them. It was thought that it might be necessary to take legal proceedings in the matter. Cr. Richards (to Mr Young): With whom did you pencil the hall? Mr Young: Madam Bernard. Cr. Richards: With whom did the other person deal? Mr Young: With Mr Diamond. I called and saw Madam Bernard and she referred to Mr Diamond. Cr King: Did you book or pencil ? Mr Young: I pencilled. I knew that by pencilling I would have the first option over the hall. Civ. i Boon:--What reason was given for refusing the hall? Mr Young: I was told that the hall had been booked on the strength of this other person stating that the initials in the diary meant that Mr Hawkins had pencilled the hall. Cr Richards: Madam Bernard might know the initials were yours but MiDiamond might not know. Cr. King: I understand from the other party that he booked the hall through Madam Bernard. t-, 1 The deputation then withdrew. Cr. King said he had been told that when the date was pencilled for MiHawkins Mr Young's initials were not on the date of December 9th. In his mind- there was nothing for the Council to do. Any remedy the Reform League had was against the lessee. Cr. Boon said all the Council could do was to see that the lessee carried out the conditions of the lease. Cr. Richards said the Council were the trustees of the ratepayers in respect of the hall. The Town Hall was erected to enable everybody to use it for such purposes as it was useful for, and the Council was responsible for seeing that it was let to those desiring to use it in an equitable manner. There had previously been trouble on the matter, and it was then laid down that the hall should be let on the usual custom governing the matter—that the person pencilling the" hall should have the first option of booking the hall. The Council had a responsibility in the matter, if a burgess complained to the Council that, having a right to the hall, that right had been denied, then the Council was called upon to interfere. Cr. Boon: At all costs the person most entitled to it should have the hall. Cr. Morison moved that Madam Bernard be informed that the Council called upon her to carry out the usual custom in reference to the letting of the hall—that the person pencilling the hall should have the first option of booking. Apart from taking sides in the matter he thought the Council had a responsibility to see that the usual conditions of letting the hall were carried out. He had seen the affidavits and they showed that Madam Bernard and Mr Diamond admitted that they had made a mistake. Cr. Thompson seconded pro forma. But before coming to a conclusion he thought the Council should ses the booking diary and the affidavits mentioned. They had heard a certain amount, but they should have the whole of the evidence before thorn. In reply to Cr. Masters she Town Clerk said there was no specific provision in Madam Bernard's agreement regarding pencilling.

Ci'. King: The grievance of fche deputation is entirely between the deputation and Madam Bernard. The motion was carried.