SERVICEMEN'S CLUB

Evening Post, Volume CXXXV, Issue 20, 25 January 1943, Page 3

SERVICEMEN'S CLUB

AT REAR OF LIBRARY

COUNCIL'S APPROVAL

The City Council today gave its unanimous'appproval to a proposal that a large club for servicemen should be built by the American , authorities—though it will be available to all servicemen-—on the land at the back of the Central Library, but will ask that special safeguards should be taken to remove fire hazards to minimise interference j with the amenities of the library. The building will be of one storey and will cover practically the whole of the vacant land. Its exterior finish will be similar to that of the Air Department's building erected a year or so ago in the northern part of the city. The American authorities had been unable to find any suitable building for a club that obviously was a real need, and so had decided that the only way out was to build. The library site, they considered, was the only suitable position, said the Mayor, Mr. Hislop. Plans had been prepared and the Government had <assented, provided that the council agreed that the site might be used. . , ~ "I think that we will gladly make the area available and I think we should do it rent-free for the period of the war and six months thereafter. After that the building will become city property, said Mr. Hislop. , , To Councillor Nimmo, who agreed that an additional club was needed, Mr. Hislop said that the club would be erected, operated, and maintained by the American authorities, without calling uoon the Metropolitan Patriotic Council. . • ~ , Councillor Gaudin said it should be clearly stated that the temporary building should come down after the war. There was no question of the necessity of the club, said Councillor Gilmer, but she was not happy about the j city being cluttered up with tern-1 porary buildings that stayed temporary for years and years. Mr. Hislop: Six months after the war we can remove it. Mrs. Gilmer: Yes, but will we? Councillor Uickie remarked that the clearance between the kitchen section of the library was very small. Councillor Bowden asked about dancing on Sundays. Councillor Duncan: Why not Sunday dancing? THE FIRE DANGER. The fire hazard was a serious matter, said Councillor Macalister. and special precautions must be taken in that regard. . ' , Apart from helping the Allied forces the council would be doing nearby property owners a good turn by covering an ugly and dusty vacant area, said Councillor Duncan. Councillor Furkert spoke also of the need for particular fire precautions. And for adequate exits, added1 Councillor Todd. He saw no objection to Sunday dancing in a club so placed; that should be left to the authorities in charge. The scheme was approved, with provisos suggested by the Mayor: That the kitchen section should be so placed as to constitute the least possible nuisance, with smokeless cooking; that the most effective fire apparatus obtainable should be installed and a 24-hour fire patrol maintained; that adequate exits should be incorporated; and that the general use of the building be subject to the general authority of the council. "As far as Sunday dancing is concerned, I personally think that we can run dancing perfectly well without any objection," said Mr. Hislop. Weekend dancing took place in the council's pavilion at Day's Bay and no word of objection was raised to that, said Councillor Luckie.