BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 243, 25 July 1944, Page 5

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

QUESTION OF STREET DAYS. MAJESTIC THEATRE ISSUE.

Permission to hold street days was sought by the Allenton and Ashburton : sub-branches of the Red Cross Society, the St. John Ambulance Association, the Plunket Society and the Women’s j Division of the Farmers’ Union, in rej quests which came before the Borough i Council last evening. Mr S. W. Gower strongly opposed the j use of the patriotic stall for any but I patriotic purposes. Information re- | garding the expenditure of patriotic J funds was displayed at the stall, and ! people who spent money there were j generally under the impression that it ; went into patriotic funds, . Aliy attempt to curtail the activities of the Red Cross Society would he very dangerous, said Mr J. K. Mather. Mr H. G. Ferrier: “I should like to clear up the misapprehension that money for parcels for prisoners of war comes from Red Cross funds.” Some assistance was given next-of-kin with personal parcels for prisoners, said Mr Gower, The request of the Plunket Society was granted, and it was agreed that stall days lie allocated the Allenton, Hampstead and Allenton subbranches of the Red Cross Society collectively, the Ashburton Sub-Centre of tlie St. John Ambulance Association, and the Women’s Division, on dates that did not clash With those required by the Borough Patriotic Committee. In the event of the committee not approving of the use of the stall the organisations will.he allowed to erect a tent on the green in East Street. The disposal of the old Majestic Theatre would be considered on receipt of a report which was expected shortly, stated a letter from the Ashburton Theatre Company. Following an inspection some time ago the company had been informed that the' building was perfectly safe. This was a reply to representations j of the Councii that the theatre he demolished or the section cleaned up,; it being held that file structure was | ■dangerous and a harbouring place for j vermin. ■ | The Mayor (E. C. Bathurst) said j that the matter would he taken up: with the appropriate authorities whenj he and the Town Clerk (Ml* R. C.-j Major) visited Wellington. j Because the housing shortage was j more important' than any building which many people were disposed of to call “luxury” works, the time was inopportune for the construction of the new Ashburton theatre, stated a letter from the Building Controller (Mr G. Albertson). If desired, the matter would he reviewed again in 12 months’ time. “This bears out what the Leader of j the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) told j us; when he visited Ashburton ” said! the Mayor. | The letter was received. New Servicemen's Club. j

The disadvantages of the premises housing the Servicemen’s Club were stressed in a letter from the Returned Servicemen’s Association, inquiring if the Council had any sections on Glasgow lease Avhich could he used for the erection of a new club. The existing premises were too srhall, were sorely in need of renovation, and were not sufficiently central, stated the letter. If a more central site could b& obtained it would possibly he morb economical to dispose of the old building rather than to make the alterations necessary to accommodate the con-stantly-increasing membership. Tlie roll of about 700 would probably rise to about- 1000 after the war. The Town Clerk was instructed to supply the Association with the required information. The question of obtaining scales for the abattoir to facilitate the weighing of meat in connection with rationing was referred to the Abattoir Committee. “The scales are required to assist in enforcing a war measure, and should not be a charge on the Council,” said the Maym*. It was decided that the Council join the Mid-Canterbury branch of the S.P.C.A. as a hotly, and donate a guinea to the funds of the Society. It was; agreed to makp the usual donation of five guineas to the Canterbury Progress League. A satisfactory report on two samples of water from the town supply was received from the Medical Officer of Health for Canterbury (Dr. J. H. Blakelock).

Those present Avere the Mayor and Messrs J. Thompson, GoAver, Mather, H. W. Sherratt, A. A. McDonald, H. W. Smallbone, W. H. Sarney J. H. BroAvne and Ferrier.