A NEW TOWN HALL

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17975, 21 March 1930, Page 9

A NEW TOWN HALL

PROPOSAL AT TE AWAMUTU. APPROVED AT PUBLIC MEETING. Proposals for the erection of a new town hall in To Awamutu were considered at a public meeting, and the council received from the ratepayers a mandate tu proceed to have the plans finalised and the necessary arrangements for finance completed for submission to a loan authority poll. The. public meeting convened by the Mayor was largely attended, fully 150 ratepayers being present. The Mayor, Mr C. 6. Downes, asked for a cordial and free expression of opinion. The proposal was introduced at this stage because certain outside syndicates had been endeavouring to negotiate for the erection of a theatre, and that gave rise to the consideration whether a town hall was not a proposition hotter serving the interests of Te Awamutu than an culside-con-trolled theatre would.be. He considered the time opportune for consideration not merely of the town hall pro- | pcvsals, but for a structure which would combine municipal offices and library, the need for which had been stressed by a deputation to the council only the other day. If approval was given by the people the council would be able to proceed with confidence that it was carrying out the wishes of the towmspeople. 1 timing to the comparison with oilier towns, Mr Downes mentioned liunlly. There the population was 1750, and the capital cost of the hall £14,200. Those figures nearly approximated the proposals as brought forward for Te Awamutu. In Huntly, too, the Town Hall operated against oideMablished private competition. It was noteworthy that Huntly had made a clear profit of £250 from its hall, and what could be accomplished there should also be possible at Te Awamutu. At Foxton a rale had never been collected. In every town the hall had proved a sound commercial venture. Purpose of the Hall. Mr E. W. McCarter .asked the proposed purpose of the hall. It was primarily intended that the hall should serve community purposes, if the hall ! was leased ho-w would the community be protected? Mr Downes explained that details of lease would, of course, come forward at the proper time, but it would first have to be decided to entertain a leasing proposition. It was a matter of revenue so as to avoid a call oa the ratepayers if at all possible. But with Lliat also the community must be protected, and he was sure that that would be done by the council. Mr A. S. Wallace said he had only support to give to the proposal. Te, Awamutu was a growing town and the centre of a thriving district. The present hall was very old and lacked space for public purposes. it was deplorable that recently the town had .been forced to go to a picture theatre to accommodate the Prime Mini.-1 or when he visited Te Awamutu. The library and reading-room had to be encouraged. He considered that the Mayor had stated the case fairly when he quoted the rate of Id in the £. That was the maximum; there was every indication that there would be no rate at all. He thought Te Awamutu would be foolish if it did not grasp Ihc proposal and erect a town hall worthy of llie town and the district. Mr Wallace proposed. “That in the opinion of this meeting a town hall, with municipal offices and library, is urgently desired in Tc Awamutu and Ihal. the Borough Council be asked to lake the necessary steps to finalise details of planning and finance at the earliest possible date.” Mr D. T. B. McArthur seconded the motion. Mr Monleflorc proceeded to outline an amendment, which the meeting ruled out as a direct negative, The proposal was carried unanimously with much applause.