THE OPERA HOUSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 August 1938, Page 7

THE OPERA HOUSE

(To the Editor.) Sir,—ls it not astonishing to read that the Trust Lands Trust asked for a rebate of their rates on the Opera House, on the grounds of poverty. Can the members of the Trust expect the Opera House to pay when they book dates, subject to the convenience of the National Party, thereby excluding any possible bookings, from others for fear the 'dates may be the day before the election. Nobody seems to know what date that is, consequently any other bookings will have to be conditional. I was always under the impression that politics'did not enter into local body affairs, but some members of the Trust may find it awkward to make this claim in future.—l am, CtC " NON-PARTY. Masterton, August 24. The suggestion that politics entered into the affairs of the Trust Lands Trust, said the secretary, Mr W. B. Yates, was entirely incorrect. At the last meeting of the Trust, when the booking of the Opera House was discussed, it was made perfectly clear that the Trust favoured no political party. Reservations had been made for the National Party for the night before the election and for the Labour Party on the second night before the election, these being the nights applied for by the parties concerned. The Trust did not approach the Borough Council for a rebate of the rates on account of poverty, but asked for the co-operation of the council in the running of a community hall.