GALA SUBSIDY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18920, 8 February 1927, Page 8

GALA SUBSIDY.

TRAMWAY BOARD'S DISCUSSION. When a letter from the New Brighton Gala Committee thanking the Christchurch Tramway Board for ite donation on the occasion of the recent gala came before the Board yesterday, together with a request for a further subsidy in respect of the forthcoming Domain Fete, Air J. A. Fleaher moved that the request be granted. This was, however, opposed by Mr D. Sykes, who stated that in view of the fact that the Board had lost about £4OOO last year on the New Brighton service through tho opposition of buses tho Board should consider this aspect of the question. The chairman (Mr A. S. Taylor) said that it was usual on such occasions to give 'a subsidy of 60 per cent, on the takings which exceeded those of an average Saturday. The committee had thus received the sum of £4l 14s 2d from the Board. Mr J. Wood: The subsidy is too high. The Board should reduce it. Mr Flesher said that but for the voluntary efforts of tho New Brighton people in providing attractions for tho gala there would not be any such gathering, in consequence of which the Board would not get the extra revenue it did. The money raised at the gala was used to provide additional attractions, of which the Board would get the benefit. If it were desired that the subsidy should be reduced, the proper time to do this was at the beginning of the 6eason, not near the end. He thought that in view of the ■sacrifice the local people were making in order to make the fete a success the request should be granted. This was agreed to.