NEW CLUB AT HORNBY

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28450, 3 December 1957, Page 7

NEW CLUB AT HORNBY

Application For Charter After hearing evidence on an application for the grant of a club charter, the Licensin” Control Commission yesterday afternoon inspected the new premises of the! Hornby Working Men’s Club m Carmen road while on its way to Timaru. Decision on the application was deferred. The club was represented by Mr R. A. Young and the Police by Inspector C. H. Reardon. Both the Police and Health Department reports on the premises were favourable. The lack of recreational facilities in a growing district seemed to have been the prime factor m the formation of the club, said Mr Young, traversing its history There was also no hotel in the district. The expansion of Hornby was likely to continue and it was on the way to becoming one of the largest factory areas in the South Island, If not in New Zealand. All available industrial land had been acquired and the township had a population of 4000, the district population being 5000, said Mr Young. The district had few social activities.

The club had bought threequarters of an acre of land with an old house, which had been converted into temporary club premises. The new building just completed had cost more than £lO,OOO. It was a credit to the men responsible for its erection. The total area was 4790 square feet when the plan was first submitted but because of the need for a two-way car track the width had been reduced by three feet. When the owner of the adjoining land agreed to sell, it was too late to revert to the original plan. The club membership had grown from 375 to 500. which was the limit, and the waiting list was growing every day and no doubi would be about the 100 mark by Monday, said Mr Young. Men in the district were anxious to join the club. Members had invested £lO,OOO and from events and cash donations raised £4549 Members had found £3BOO in debentures and subscriptions and money was being raised at the rate of £5OO a month. An overdraft of £6500 had been arranged. Modern Building

Members had rallied round in working bees, giving ilieir technical knowledge and saving the club considerable money, said Mt Young. New rules to suit the requirements of the commission had been adopted.

“The evidence will be that this club fulfils a need in the district and that its officers ana members are keen and enthusiastic,” said Mr Young. “The building is handsome and modern in every way. It appears that all the requirements of the Licensing Act have been compliea with to the letter.” Evidence in support of the application was given by Leslie Walter Stephen Griffiths, the club’s president, Albert Edward Loach, secretary of the Hornby Residents’ Association, and the club’s treasurer, Frank Harris.