THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 38, 12 September 1916, Page 3

THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS.

WHAT IS IT FOR ? . An interesting discussion formed part of the deliberations of the Ror-1 ough Council last evening, and -related to the use of the Council Chambers. The question as to whether the room I should he used by all and sundry on ' application to the Council, or whether l it was the sanctum sanctorum of the ‘ Council itself, was the outcome of a request by Mr W. I’. Kirkwood, tliai tl\e War Relief Association be allowed to use the Council Chamber every fortnight. | The Mayor said he thought it unwise to grant the request. The Chain-; her should bo used only for annual meetings and conferences. j Cr Hunter said the chamber was built for an express purpose, and he had not, in other towns, seen it used other than by the Council. The Mayor moved, and Cr Hunter seconded: That the Council cannot 1 see its way clear to allow the War| Relief Association the use of the Council Chamber fortnightly, as the Council at the present allows the j Association the use of a large room free. | Cr Hunter said he had not even seen the Council Chambers used lor conferences. If a room was wanted for a meeting there was ( the Town Hall. If the Council Chamber was used by everybody and anybody, it would soon be stuffed up and need renovating. It was a mistake for the Council Chamber to be used for every purpose. The furniture was too good j to tie used by everybody and aiiy-'j body. | Cr Young said the Town Hall was too large, and the light, etc., made the cost too great. The Council Chamber was the only suitable room for Ipcal institutions. Cr Thompson was against the Council Chamber being used for any other

than Council business. The Mayor said the Stratford Patriotic Committee used the Association’s room, and the members wished for nothing better. Or Thompson moved: That- the Penned Chamber be not used other than for council business from time to I time.—Seconded by Cr Davey. \ The Mayor said lie was not in favor of the amendment as there were times I when the room was needed for such as annual conferences of dairy companies and war relief societies. To put a small conference in the Town Hall was not pleasant. He was in favour of granting conferences the use of the Chambers when representatives from outside Stratford were in attend-

ance. The Mayor moved as a further amendment : That the use of the Council Chamber be granted for the holding of conferences, when vepreseutativos from outside districts arc in attendance, and annual meetings of public interest. In moving' the amendment, the speaker said he thought it unwise to cut .out annual conferences of dairy companies in Stratford. It was a gain to the town to got the conferences hold in Stratford. The Town iHiall was not suitable for small meetings.

1 The amendment was seconded by Cr Young. Cr Hunter said if they let one'body use the Council Chambers for annual conferences, they should let others. Tile Racing Club, Football Clubs, and Coif Clubs think they were just as important a body as any other, Foi the annual meeting of dairy companies and patriotic committee, the chamber was too small. Cr .Hills, in supporting the amendment. said he thought the Chamber of Commerce should meet in the Council Chamber. If that institution was worked properly and carried out. if was almost as important to the town as the Rorough Council. The Council should grant the Chamber of Corn merce the use of the room. It would be a gracious act on the part ol the Council to allow visiting members'of conferences to hold meetings in the Council Chamber. Cr Young said the Council should not act too hastily an the matter, as there was no other suitable room in the town. The annual meeting of the Racing Club was hold recently in a very small room, and it would bo a credit to tbo Council to allow the Club to bold its animal meeting m the Council Chamber. The Mayor altered his amendment to read : That the Chamber of Commerce, annual meetings of Dairy Companies, Patriotic Connniitce, Dairy Factory Conferences and Con-

fereneos with local bodies be allowed the use of the Council Chamber . Cr Lawson said be was in favor of setting ii]> a sub-committee to grant the use of the Chamber.

The amendment on being put to the meeting was lost. The Mayor then moved: That the matter be left to the Reserves Committee to report at next meeting, the Mayor, Chairman of the Reserves Committee and the Town Clerk, be authorised to grant the use of the Council Chamber in the meantime.— Seconded by Cr Young, and carried.