PROPOSED NEW SOLDIERS’ CLUB.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4917, 10 July 1918, Page 2

PROPOSED NEW SOLDIERS’ CLUB.

A CHOICE OF PREMISES

COMMITTEE APPOINTED.

A meeting was held at the Borough Council office's yesterday afternoon, Air W. G. Sherratt presiding, to consider the question of the acquisition of 1 larger premises for the Soldiers’ Club.

The chairman said the meeting was called to consider whether the present Club rooms were large enough. The rooms at tin; present time wore rather crowded. The Committee had looked at two suitable rooms but the question was one of finance.

Mr F. E. Gaddum, secretary of the Club, said that when the Club started the idea was that there should be a guinea subscription annually. The total revenue the first year was £776. The present assets of the Clu'b' included furniture and piano £539 and the total assets £SIO. _Up to the end of May there was £59 balance in the Committee’s' favour. The Club was growing very rapidly and they were looking forward to a time when the accommodation would be perfectly adequate so as to secure accommodation for the men who were coming back. They had had offers from two landlords'. The superficial area of the club was 2700 feet. One of th e landlords suggested that they should take accommodation of approximately twice the present area. The superficial area of Mr Grieve’s room was 6,000 feet. The Directors of the Palace Pictures had offered rooms at £4 per week as against £3 asked; by Mr Grieve.

The chairman said it would be better if the meeting appointed a small committee to go into the matter and report. Fie moved to that effect.

Archdeacon Paeke seconded. In reply to a question the Mayor said that, the present rent was 30s per week. Mr doCosta said it was regrettable that there was such a small attendance. He expected that there would be a large attendance. Miss Rees said that she did not think there was any reason to worry about the financial difficulty. The only question was as to the suitability of the rooms.

Mr Bedford said that he was afraid that Mr Grieve’s building was too far away. lie thought that any club room that was far away was unsuitable. He thought that if they got the Palace Buildings the returned soldiers would be grateful to the public of Gisborne, which was very generous. It was eventually decided to appoint a small committee to report on the financial question and suitability of the rooms. The committee comprises Messrs ' acke, E H. Mann, De. Costa, A. M. Pufflett, A. Za'chariah. M. McLernon, 11. Mitchell and F. E. Gaddum (secretary) with the chairman (Mr W. G. Sherratt). The ladies’ committee consists of the following: Mesdames Jones, Beere, Sheri att, J. R. Kirk, and Midi Rees.