OPERA HOUSE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 September 1943, Page 2

OPERA HOUSE

COMMERCIAL USE PROPOSED STRENGTHENING WORK BEYOND TRUST’S RESOLURCES. ATTITUDE OF BOROUGH COUNCIL. The future of the Opera House was discussed at a meeting of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust held last night, when it was decided that the Building Committee find a tenant with a view to the commercial use of the building and that the disposal of the fittings be held over in the meantime. In the absence on account of illness of the chairman, Mr H. P. Hugo, Mr J. Macfarlane Laing presided. Mr Laing said that from the useful report prepared by the secretary, Mr A. W. McKenzie, it would be seen that the Trust was fac ed with an expenditure of from £8,500 to £9,000 for purely strengthening work. The building was over 40 years old and had outlived its usefulness. It was inadequate in size, accommodation and stage facilities. The Borough Council would not grant a licence for the public use of the building unless strengthening work was carried out. The work would in no way make the building a modern one. The Trust was not in a position to face the expenditure. The Trust architect, Mr W. E. Lavelle, had endeavoured to see if a lesser scheme of strengthening could be carried out, but, as the letter from the council before the meeting stated, there was no chance of that.

“Regrettable as it is we are faced with the permanent closing of the Opera House as far as its use for entertainment purposes is concerned,” said Mr Laing. “We have battled for years to keep it going and after the earthquake the Opera House was restored in 1938 to the then required standards. The building came through the earthquakes over a year ago without any structural damage but according to the authorities the building may be a source of danger in the event of a more ' serious ’quake. The work is beyond the financial ability of the Trust and it would be wrong to entertain it. It would be such a drain that the finances of the Trust would be strained. We can realise on the equipment and let the building for commercial use,” Mr Laing added. “LIKE A LOT OF DUMMIES.” Mr C. E. Grey said that when the matter was discussed at the last meeting of the council the engineer, Mr Mabson, admitted that there was no structural damage to the building. Councillors were almost silent and sat like a lot of dummies. Only he and Councillor Gardner spoke on the matter. The Trust had provided a building for the community and in doing so had taken on a job which should have been the council’s. Mr J. A. Russell said no one would dream of spending such a sum strengthening work on the Opera House. Mr E. G. Eton contended that the Borough Council had taken an arbitrary stand. The community would not thank the Trust if it took the council’s decision lying down. 11l reply to Mr R. Krahagen, Mr Laing said the chairman had interviewed the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, and requested an interest-free loan, but the suggestion was turned down. After further discussion a motion that the Trust Building Committee endeavour to find a tenant for the Opera House with a view to the commercial use of the building was carried. Mr Eton recorded his vote against the motion. ___