WHY NOT USE IT?

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 192, 15 August 1925, Page 11

WHY NOT USE IT?

TO ENTERTAIN JACKIES. RUTLAND STREET DRILL HALL. A suggestion that was freely discussed by prominent men in the city, and at the enclosure at Ellerslie to-day, was that the spacious drill hall in P.utland Street be utilised for the entertainment of men of the American fleet on shore leave.

It was pointed out that time went slowly for large numbers of men after four o'clock in the afternoon, and that if the drill hall could be made into some sort of a club, or cabaret, it would be greatly appreciated by a large number of our visitors.

There /Would be no necessity to go to great expense in the matter, since, for a comparatively small outlay, a space for dancing could be provided. Early in the evening a gramophone could be used to provide the music, and later an orchestra of local amateur musicians, or perhaps some of the sailors, could be found. There must be numbers of people who would be happy to brighten the visitors' hours ashore by giving a little of their time. Then, too, the men would not make great demands in the matter of supper, a cup of coffee and a few sandwiches being all that would be necessary.

It is probable that the Mayor and Colonel H. R. Potter, O.CD., will be approached concerning the -matter, since a strong body of influential citizens is interested, and it is felt that it is more a matter for the authorities than for the citizens. SAILORS AT RACES. Admiral Wiley, 150 officers and a thousand men were the guests of the Pakuranga Hunt Club at the races at Ellerslie to-day, most of the officers being in mufti. The Leger Stand was a mass of little white caps. The men seemed to be enjoying the afternoon's sport, the hurdle races being of particular interest to the men, while the mysteries of the "tote" also claimed their attention.

Vice-Admiral H. A. Wiley, of the U.S.s. West and party were shown over the totalisator at Ellerslie this afternoon. -