WANTED: A MUNICIPAL THEATRE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7824, 17 June 1909, Page 4

WANTED: A MUNICIPAL THEATRE.

For some time past Mr Thomas BiiU lock has been trying to persuade the people of Ashburtpn to build a municipal theatre, but he has so far, been like a voice cr^kig in the -wilderness. Mr Bullock has probably been looking ahead, and having good opportunities for forming a correct idea of what will be evolved in the near future, he wishes to arouse the people so that they will' not be caught napping when the events which he forsees become—not a matter of speculation, but history. The Oddfellows' Hall is a poor substitute for a theatre^ and no laboured argument is needed to impress this truth upon those' who httVe" sat in the straiirhtbacketl Comfortless Seats, of Suffered from the 1 pitiless draughts. Which the eccentric architecture 1 of the 1 bunding admits in its primitive efforts to' provide for ventilation; (By' the w;a^ { how very inadequately .proper. yeritijatioh is provided here and elsewhere ihremghout New Zealand, even in buildings.af the better class; a circumstance which reflects.little credit on the intelligence of architects or the forethought of owiiers. Fresh air. is as indispensable as wholesome food to Iranian .Beings.) _.

To resume: Many good companies which would visit Ashburton are compelled to pass the town by, for there is neither stage accommodation sufficient for the company nor enough comfortable accommodation in the hall to induce the attendance of an audience large enough to pay. The result is that good companies rarely come, and residents of Ashburton have been so | .frequently disappointed by what is prer sented, that they have acquired 'a habit of staying at home arid taking occasional trips to Christchurch, where something up to a higher level can be J witnessed. The audiences which appear at the Oddfellows' Hall, are most disappointing, and very shortly no company of any standing will dare to stop over for a night at Ashburton. It cannot be supposed 'that the people of this town have lost their desire for amusement —they are an average' lot ot; people, with very probably the same I ■ tastes as those of people elsewhere; but the amusements offered them must; be of the right kind and under proper conditions. ■ Probably the business people oi Ashburton would be going along very sound lines if they used the strno argument in connection with amusements as they did in connection with the >-jaturday half-holiday proposal. The people of this town don't get their amusements here, but they have them all the same. By practising a little economy at the expense of the business people, they are able to go to the city and see something for their money. A cry has been raised that the business of Ashburton is drifting to Christchurch, and unless a little more procrressiveness is shown locally, Ashburton will become merely a flag-station or something approaching very closely to one. Mr Bullock's proposal is a sound one, and it is quite probable that if a loan were raised for a theatre or-— if that name is odious—a Town Hall, the building would be so extensively used that in a very short time it would pay for itself. . , - Then, another question arises: vyhere will the A. and P. Association hold its Winter Show when it is no longer able to obtain—by the good grace of the proprietor and tenants—the Arcade.-' This possibility is already causing the 4 and P. Association anxiety, ahd unless the people of Ashburton show a little more energy they will nnd that the town has absolutely nothing to distinguish it from an up-country township where— barring meetings connected more or less with church and bun- ' day school—the only occasional weeknight diversion consists in a dance, where the young people—except for the music of their own hearts—have nothing to move to but; the demoralised ! desperation of some varicosed yiolm, ! asthmatical flute,, or palsied piccolo,. Even town sections, rents and other money-making media might suffer dur- ; ing the process that led to this consummation. Wherefor the most matter-of- '■> fact may find it worth while to reconsider all the bearings of. the case.