OUR SILENT HALLS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1307, 9 December 1911, Page 4

OUR SILENT HALLS.

: ' 'AN'OFFICIAL EXPLANATION. Some public comment was aroused by the fact that the Town Hall and Concert Chamber stood empty and silent on the night before the general election, although it had been announced that each hall would bo occupied by a concert company. In response to inquiries, the town clerk (Sir. J. If. Palmer) yesterday mado tho following statement upon the subjects-

"Mr. Koylo (rcprosentativo of J, C. ■Williamson and Co.) called at tho Town Hall early in November and said that he required (he use of tho big hall on Deccmbcr 0 for an entertainment, lie was informed that there were two other queries against that date, ; also for entertainments, and that it would bo necessary for us to communicate with theso applicants before any definite booking could bo made. Ho was also informed that wo had heard that it was possible tliat that particular day might bo tho day before the general election, and that if this were.found upon inquiry to 1m tho caso we could not let tho ball to him, but would follow our usual course of inviting tenders. Tho application was held in abeyanco while steps woto taken to ascertain whether tho date of the general' election had been fixed. Inquiry at tho Department of Internal Affairs elicited the reply that no day had yet been decided upon. Consequently there was nothing for it but to let the hall in tho usual way. Inquiries were made of tho other people who had pencilled the dato Mr. Ruylo required Ono applicant withdrew, and for the other an equally convenient date was found. Mr. Boyle's engagement was thereupon accepted, subject to Ins paying the fee. Ho paid tho deposit fee of .£5. Nothing more is known ot tho matter until tho day itself (December G), when Sir. Boyle was rung up from the town clerk's office and asked for the balance of the rent. Mr. Rovle called at the olhce later and stated that his arl-'f-shad disappointed him, or words to that effect, lie therefore desired to know what his position was as regards ,i J" 0 ?, ' , n ° wns informed that as tho hall had been refused to othors for that night, it would be necessary for him to pay tho full fee whether ho' used tho hall or not. He at once paid." Mr. Palmer stated also that on the day following that of his application for the m, » Wl, Mr. Roylo engaged tho Concert Hall for an entertainment on the night of December G. As in tho caso of tho main hall, tho Concert Chamber stood unused on that evening, and Mr. Rovle paid the rent. It was the usual practice of the council,, Mr. Palmer .explained, to accept engagement's of the halls for Decern her in tho ordinary way until tho tlato of tho election had 'been made known. Tho date having once been made known, no engagement of either lioll for that evening would bo accepted. Unless they had been previously engaged, public tenders would be called for tho Tight to use theni on tho night before tho election.

MR, FISHER'S PLAIN WORD. THE CITY COUNCIL ACCUSED. "You know quito well," Mr. Fisher told his auditors at St. Peter's Hnll last ovenms' f i a J,y° u f big Town Hall and small lown Hall wcro bought up and kept shut on l-lio night before the election. (Shame.) As soon as (ho numbers wont up last night I applied for the Town Hall ,on tho night beforo tho second ballot. I got in reply 'It is going to be let by tender.' ".''y ?'«? '' not let by lender on tho TO 1 before Hie election? Tho fact is that this city at tho present time is held within (lie grip of an unscrupulous partv. Hear, hear, and applause.) If I go back to Parliament I shall be up against these organisations which are using nil the underhand methods of which tho human mind is capable. What 1 wont is fair piny, niul what tho Labour party calls equality of opportunity. What equality of opportunity is there here? Tho Town Hall was built for the purpose of enabling citizens to use it. If it belonged to a big American trust it •could not bo more maladministered than it is bv vour City Council at the present time. '(Hear, hear.) I take this opportunity of miJilidv demnnding that the City Council shall nitrt as early as possible to deal with this question of the Town Hall, to open it up and let us all have a fair run. (Loud applause.} Answering a question later in the ovenin?, Mr. Fisher said that ho thought it fair that anyone hiring the hall for the night; beforo the election should forfeit the right to use it unless ho advertised something to take place in it three days boforohand. no did not think that the City Council would bo justified in mulcting candidates in an abnormal charge who wished to ldro £ho hall in order to doling. Ajcuhlis. ftddieo.