RISINGHOLME

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25161, 17 April 1947, Page 3

RISINGHOLME

COMMUNITY CENTRE’S WORK AND NEEDS

PROGRESS REVIEWED AT ANNUAL MEETING

More space is now the most urgent need for the development of the Risingholme Community Centre, according to the report of the retiring president (Dr. O. H. Frankel) to the annual meeting of the centre last evening. The small hall, now being built with the assistance of voluntary labour, should be completed before the winter, said the report. ‘‘The next immediate need is to make the main building, at which the majority of activities will still carry on, less bare and forbidding, more comfortable and welcoming—in fact, more a community home,” it added. “To do this —and the need is urgent if the centre is to prosper—we need more space. ‘‘So far the two medium-sized and the one small room are each used for a variety of purposes, often on one day. We cannot set aside a room for any one of them, which means a great deal of useless carrying about of equipment and furniture. We cannot have a library, or a craft room, or a clubroom where men and women can study and discuss in reasonable comfort. We cannot carry on a ‘noisy’ and a ‘studious’ activity on the same night, since all rooms are so close together.” Grafts, Drama, Films Crafts and drama were the activities in which the most important developments had occurred. Five dressmaking classes, a pottery class, and a woodwork class were now firmly established at the centre. Other craft activities were ‘planned. The drama group had produced two sets of oneact plays, in spite of severe difficulties of staging. A sound film projector would soon be made available by the Education Department at little more than a third of the normal price. Screenings of films from the National Film Library and elsewhere were being planned. The centre’s financial position continued to be satisfactory. Members’ fees and the incidental allowances received by the centre had more than covered running expenses, and helped towards modest purchases of muchneeded equipment. “Insufficient Scope”

“Risingholme is a busy place,” said Dr. Frankel. “It provides many ways of enriching our leisure. But so far it provides insufficient scope for the speculative faculty, or, in our meaning, the development of the faculties of the mind.” Perhaps the intellectual and educational facilities of the city were too strong. Perhaps the centre was a little unenterprising and insular. He suggested comparisons with the Army education groups, the Feilding community centre, and the university extension work of the Adult Education Council in Auckland.

To some extent the physical condition of the centre was to blame —it was too uncomfortable, cold, and forbidding. Could this be improved? Dr. Frankel asked. There was only one solution, and that was more space for the centre in the house itself.

He appealed to the city to take the lead in improving facilities of which it could be proud. The community centre gave true meaning to a live democracy; it made people understand and like each other and work together. The centre had proved its capacity to perform this service, and had encouraged people to mix, rather than keep together in groups and classes.

The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews), Crs. J. N. Clarke and L. G. Amos, and Mr M. J. Barnett, Superintendent of Parks and Reserves, attended. Each spoke briefly, assuring the meeting of the City Council’s wholehearted support for the centre, and congratulating it on the progress made. The following officers were elected: president, Mr F. Rhodes; vice-presi-dent, Mr L. Trebilcock; committee, Mrs R. O. Page, Mrs O. H. Frankel, Misses M. Bowen, D. Herbert, and J. Morland, Messrs T. J. Forrester, J. Bates, E. Mulcock, H. Rusbridge, and Dr. O. H; Frankel.