PROPOSED NEW HALL

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 3231, 26 June 1928, Page 5

PROPOSED NEW HALL

PUBLIC MEETING AT SOUTH-

BRIDGE LAST NIGHT

RESIDENTS CIVE THEIR

APPROVAL

■■V- £3.000 BUILDING SUGGESTED.

Last night a meeting of ratej.avers of the Southbridge Town district "and of the Southbridge riding of the Ellesmere county, convened by the chairman of the Southbridge Town Board

Mr T. H. Bennett) was held in the

ante room of the Town Hall, to consider a proposal that a new Town Hall should bo built. The inadequacy of the present hall accommodation has

'ecu stressed on many occasions with-

|in the last few years. There were close upon 40 persons present at the meeting, and it was stated that other riding ratepayers would have attended but for the meeting being \ li} \d on the same night as the Farmers' Union, meeting. A resolution in favour of the building of a new hali was carried without a

dissenting voice

" You ivill all agree with me, J. am sure, that this building, which has served for the last 42 years, has outlived its usefulness," said Mr Bennett, who presided, in introducing the subject. The stage had been reached when it would be necessary either to spend a large sum of money in enlarging and renovating the existing hall or to build a new one. There seemed to be a general desire to see a new hall built, but the question was one for the ratepayers to decide, and it was to ascertain their views that the meeting had been called by the Town Board. He hoped those present would express their views quite freely.

Air E. J. Cowan said he was one of the ratepayers who considered that (here should be a new building, but he would like to. know how it was proposed to raise the money. The town and district needed a much larger and certainly a better class of building than the present hall.

In reply the chairman said he took it that the bulk of the money would have to be raised by loan. That was also a matter for the ratepayers to consider.

Mrs T. B. Howson agreed that a new hall was badly needed. She had attended many functions at which it had beep shown that the hall Avas not much more than half large enough. "If we get a. new hall we will have something to show for our money instead of putting it all into Leeston," said the speaker.

The chairman said that for the last two years the gross revenue from the hall had amounted to £297. The rev-

•enue was increasing year by year, and possibly the time would come when the revenue would be quite sufficient to cover interest and sinking fund on a loan. Mr A. Tong thought the only way to obtain the money would be to raise a loan of £3000 for an extended term, say 30 years. The money could not be raised by rating, though the interest I and sinking fund could be provided in that way. '' You have the approval of the ratepayers in the step you are taking," said Mr Cowan, speaking again. One way of raising the money would be by loan, another would be by issuing debentures. . ' i My own view is that we should raise a loan of £3000 and build a hall (hat will serve the needs of the town and district for many years to come," said the chairman. The whole of the property at present held by the Town Board was clear of debt, and the value of the rateable property in the town district was £56,000. He did not anticipate any difficulty in raising a loan. Mr James Simpson asked whether it was intended to raise the loan on the security of the town district, or whether the ratepayers of the Southbridge riding of Ellesmere county, or at least a part of it, were to be asked to bear a share. The chairman thought they should do as the Dunsandel people had done recently in order to finance the building of a hall —define a rating area embracing the properties of all those people who made Dunsandel their centre and who used the hall frequently. The Southbridge Hall served a large part of the Southbridge riding and he thought the outside ratepayers would readily agree to bear part of the cost of the hall by way of a rate to meet the interest and sinking fund. Difficulties had been met with at Dunsandel because of the rating area embracing parts of two counties, necessitating Parliamentary sanction. Mr 11. J. Greenwood's opinion was that the county ratepayers should not be asked to pay the same rate as those in the town district, because many of them would be paying an undue proportion .He thought there should be a differential rate, if such a course was legal and practicable. It was pointed out by Mr Cowan that the interest and sinking fund on

£3,000, at 6 per cent., would only amount to £180 a year. Even if the rate was higher than 6 per cent., the interest and sinking fund would be within £200 a year. Last year the hall had brought in £150 odd i n revenue.

With a larger and more up-to date hall, capable of accommodating a much larger number of people than the present building, they could charge higher fees for the hire of the hall, and so increase the revenue. It looked as though very little would have to be found by way of a special rate.

Mr J. Griffin, a member of the Town Board, said he would like to endorse what previous speakers had said regarding the urgency of the need of a new hall. It had been shown over and over again in recent years that the hall was not nearly large enough. Complaints were reaching the Town Board from, various bodies who used the hall regarding the lack of accommodation. The Town Board had discussed on many occasions the advisability of renovating the present hall. It was badly in need of renovation, which would run into a considerable sum. After conferring with an architect the Board had considered two alternatives—the enlarging and renovating of the present hall, at a cost of £1200, or the erection of a completely new modern building of adequate size at a cost of £3000. The present hall was sadly lacking in the way of comfortable seating and conveniences. It was his opinion that the levying of a special rate of id in the £ in the town district alone would provide the money needed to make up the interest and sinking fund on a loan, without asking the county ratepayers to share the cost, and even then the town district would be one of the lowest rated town districts in the Dominion. Then the hall would become the property of the town district. In the last few years the Town Board had experienced much difficulty in meeting the demands of Government inspectors in regard to a picture operating box. The Sedgemere people had set out a few years ago to raise £200 for a hall, but they had succeeded in raising £600, He felt sure that a large sum could be raised in the Southbridge district in the same way. AVith a new building they could charge much higher fees, up to £5 for a ball.

The chairman asked for a show of hands of all present as to whether it was advisable to build a new hall, and nearly all present put up their hands. Another show of hands was taken as to whether the Town Board should proceed to raise a loan of £3,000 to tin a nee the building of a hall, and again the response was unanimous. Replying again to Mr Greenwood, the chairman said that the suggestion that the Southbridge riding ratepayers should be given an opportunity to assist would receive careful consideration. "You know the feeling of the people now; go ahead and take the necessary steps to raise the money," said Mr Cowan. A further suggestion by Mr Greenwood was that, as Southbridge had no war memorial, the proposed new hall should be built as a memorial to those men from the district who served in the Great War. They could pass a subscription list round the district and he felt sure that many riding ratepayers would subscribe readily and generous iy. The chairman thanked Mr Greenwood for the suggestion, and Mrs C. J. Dugan said she was sure that a large sum could be raised for a memorial hall. Mr Cowan moved a resolution requesting the Town Board to take the necessary steps towards the erection of a hall. He added that the people could, depend upon the Board exercising wise judgment in regard to the financing of the scheme, but it was his opinion that if a loan was to be raised it should be over the town district alone. Outside people would readily give voluntary contributions if invited to do so. The motion was carried unanimously. The chairman said that the Town Board, having ascertained that there was a general desire in the district to see a new hall built, would hold a special meeting at an early date to go into the question of ways and means. The matter of asking the riding ratepayers to assist would receive due consideration.