OPERA HOUSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1940, Page 4

OPERA HOUSE

USE FOR PATRIOTIC PURPOSES. FUTURE POLICY DEFINED. “It strikes me tnat instead of giving the Opera House free we should charge rent and make a donation of the net amount received from patriotic efforts to a local patriotic fund,” stated the chairman of the Trust Lands Trust, Mr H. P. Hugo, at a meeting of the Trust last night. He stated that the Opera/ House was being used regularly and" the Opera House account would show very badly on the books, while the Trust was entitled to some credit for the donations it was making. The discussion arose out of two applications received from the Town Clerk, Mr G. T. O'Hara Smith, applying for the free use of the Opera House on Saturday, July 13 for the Centennial Celebrity concert, proceeds of whicn were for centennial and/or patriotic funds, and for the remittance of the rent charged the Little Theatre Society for its performances on July 1 and July 2 for patriotic funds. “It is a community affair. We are all pleased to have such artists visiting here,” stated Mr R. Krahagen referring to the forthcoming centennial concert. Mr J. M. Laing: “Our account will show no revenue, and at the same time we get no credit.” Mr Owen Jones agreed with Mr Laing, stating that under the proposal the Trust would be sure that the proceeds, in this case, went to patriotic funds. Mr C. E. Grey: “They will not go to the Centennial Fund.” It.was decided to adopt that procedure in the future, with the exception of civic receptions and farewells to troops, in which case no charge would be made for the hall.