BOROUGH AFFAIRS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 108, 18 February 1936, Page 2

BOROUGH AFFAIRS

PICTURES ON ANZAC NIGHT. COUNCIL REFUSES PERMIT. The Ashburton Borough Council met last evening, when there were present the Mayor (Mr W. H. Woods), Messrs E. H!. Orr, It. Kerr, W.,H. Robinson, H. It. C. McElrea, J. T. Pratley, S. Mitchell, J. Shaw, E. Buchanan, F. J. . E. Smallbone, and Dr. J. Connor. The financial statement showed that receipts since the previous meeting had totalled £853 18s 7d, the chief items being rates £24 Os 3d (current) and £4B 4s 5d (arrears), rents £37 15s, water supply £25 .10s 7d, abattoir fees £BB 3s 9d, licenses £27 3s Bd. The Minister of Justice (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) wrote that the question of the transfer of the present Courthouse site to the Borough Council had been referred to the Public Works Department, and that action was being taken. to vest the site in the Council. The Assistant Under-Secretary to the Public Works Department wrote that it was proposed to complete the exchange in terms of Section 99 of the Public Works Act, 1928, hut before this could be done it would be necessary for the Council to pay the amount agreed upon as equality of exchange. The Council had, therefore, to pay the sum of £3500 into the Public Account, when the steps necessary to give the Council title could be completed. The Justice Department had the right to house building within the year from occupy, and remove the present Courtthe date of the exchange. The question was left to the cliairman of the Finance Committee and the Town Clerk. The Canterbury Progress League wrote asking the Council to contribute toward the cost of erecting a memorial to the late Sir Arthur Dobson. It was decided to make a grant of one guinea. Mr Arthur R. Gordon (manager of the Fuller-Hayward Theatres in Ashburton) wrote asking permission to screen pictures in the two theatres on Anzac Day. He pointed out that the Dunedin City Council had granted similar permission in Dunedin. “It has become increasingly apparent in recent years that a great number of returned soldiers are anxious to see a change in the nature of Anzae Day, this attitude being widely supported by the general public. . . We think, too, that the principle of the gesture made by King Edward VIII. on the occasion of the funeral of his late father might well be adopted in this case.” The Mayor said that as long as Anzac Day was, by Statute, a Sunday, they should not depart from it. It should be observed as a Sunday and was outside an ordinary holiday. It was hardly appropriate that pictures should be shown on that day. Eyen when pictures for charitable purposes had been granted three years ago, there had been a good deal of opposition. On the motion of Messrs Robinson and Orr, it was agreed not to grant permission and to point out to Mr Gordon the Council’s reasons. Domain Boat'd. Sitting as a Domain Board, the Council received the report of the Curator on the work of his staff in the last two weeks. The Hampstead School Jubilee Committee wrote asking permission to use the Domain for a children’s picnic on Easter Monday, in connection with the jubilee celebrations. Permission was granted, and it was agreed to grant extra facilities to the ‘ promoters. Cemetery Board. The Council sat as a Cemetery Board and received the financial statement, which showed that there was a credit balance of £lB ss. Receipts since the previous meeting had totalled £6 11s sd.