BOROUGH'S REQUEST FOR PICTURE LICENCE

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 170, 29 April 1955, Page 5

BOROUGH'S REQUEST FOR PICTURE LICENCE

Figures Of Taupo's Growth The Borough Council has made application to the Department of Industries and Commerce for a film exhibitor's licence to enable it to show pictures in the War Memorial Hall. It is proposed to operate on two days during the winter months, namely Tuesday and Saturday, and on three days a week during the summer months. In connection with this application some interesting figures were before the council, at its meeting on April 20, bearing on the local growth in population during recent years. There are 1543 people paying rates to the Borough Council; 1110 electrical connections to the municipal power scheme; over 600 telephone connections to the local exchange, with a considerable waiting list; 59 shops in Taupo, including eight grocers and four butchers, and there are six garages and three doctors. Development Taking Place As an indication of the development taking place in Taupo, the following are the values of building permits issued by the council for the last five years: — Year ending March, 1951, £59,462; March 1952, £135,440; March 1953, £118,361; March 1954, £319,262; March 1955, £250,768. Census figures for population since 1926 in the borough are as follows: — 1926, European 280, Maori 70; 1936, 450 and 73; 1945, 549 and 174; 1951, 1153 and 205; 1954, estimated, 2395 and 342. The estimated population in Taupo itself and the vicinity, as far as Nukuhau, is stated at 2650 Europeans and 487 Maoris, a total of 3137. This estimate is based on the fact that there were 1153 Taupo residents on the electoral roll on June 13, 1954, and takes account pf children at school, and of the number of children under five as supplied by the Postmaster from the Birth Registrar. Allowance is also made for residents who were not enrolled, while the number of Nukuhau residents was taken from the 1951 census. Additional population within a radius of seven and a-half miles, including Waitahanui and Oruanui, is stated at 300 Europeans and 318 Maoris, a total of 618. Additional population within a. radius of 20 miles of Taupo is stated as 349 Europeans and 348 Maoris, a further total of 697. These figures give a total population in Taupo and within 20 miles of 4452.