THE NEW HALL

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1937, Page 7

THE NEW HALL

MOST MODERN BUILDING. That it is unnecessary for a building to present an elegant outside appearance is forcibly brought home to those who view the interior of the new Miners’ Hall. Comfort has been carefully attended to, and the result is a building of utility, comfort, and warmth. The hall seats 750, 500 in the stalls and 250 in the circle, compared with the old hall’s accommodation for 500. From the main entrance, three glass doors lead into a roomy, carpeted lounge, where settees and easy chairs are provided. From the loynge, access is obtained to the secretary’s office, card rpom, and -adie's’ retiring room. A stairway, six feet wide, leads off at the left to the circle, and in the centre entrance is made to the stalls. The seats in the hall are staggared; i.e., the end seat of every alternate row is half as wide again as the rest, and so people do not sit directly behind one another. Ample exits are provided, there being three along the south wall, and one direct from the circle to the outside of the hall. The stage has a sloped floor, and at the sides ladies' and gents’ dressing rooms are provided. As an annexe along the north wall, is f : arge supper room, with accommodation for about 120. Two large coppers and other facilities provide for dances and socials. The projection room at the top of the circle is finished on the outside with Donnaconna oard. The interior walls of the hall are

Back Row: Messrs H. Boynes, W. Ward, W. Eddy, F. Ellis,S. £ odgson ’/J' Pattinson. 2nd Row: Messrs M. Lauder, W. Knight P. C Webb C E IS, J. Glover, A. Boddy, Hamilton Knight, J. Stewart, J. Southwar , G. > F Bansgrove. Sitting: Messrs R. Knight, R. Sinnott, G. R. Hunter P. Stewart, M. Hughes, J. Rostron, G. Piner, C. Rodgers, T. Boardman and R. Semple, centre.

panelled in decorative colours, and the curve of the ceiling in autumn shades. Three-plv wood is used on the wall? for six feet from the floor, and the remainder is 2Jin. T. and G. Ths theatre is lit by large flood lights with ornamental shades giving a diffused light, and the stage is brightly lit. Amcle room is provided above the stage for the storage of scenery. A.s with the old hall, special provision is made for dancing, and the floor is laid in black pine to provide a good .-lancing surface. The size of the hall is 128 feet long by 49 feet wide, and there is a dancing space of 72 feet by 49 feet. Provision is made for the storing of the stalls seats under the stage during dances. As a safeguard against fire, a large storage tank will be provided outside, with an electric pump, and hose leads will be laid in the hall. Modern sanitary conveniences will be provided by means of a septic tank. With the exception of the front and the south wall, the building is of iron, on silver pine foundations. The contractor was Mr J. McMillan, of Cobden. The seats, manufactured by the N.Z. Lace Webb Co., Lt., Christchurch. are the leather upholstered tip-up type, and are value.d at over £lOOO.

Heating has been'made a feature of the new building, and is provided by’ a furnace fired by either coal or coke, which heats fresh air and passes it into the theatre at various points, the stale air being drawn away by

electric fans, in summer, the equipment can be used to provide cool air to any temperature. A complete change of air is made every, twenty minutes. ‘ SOUND PROJECTOR. The sound equipment provided is of the most modern type installed io New Zealand, being manufactured entirely in the Dominion. The only part of the equipment not made in New Zealand is the projector unit, which is of German manufacture. German-made projectors are considered to be. in the top rank. The projectors are the Germanmade ’’Bauer,” and are larger and more modern than those installed in the old hall. Of special interest is the Diphonie speaker which will convey the sounds I evenly to every part of the hall, a

distinct advance on older types. Messrs T. A. Fisher and Co., of Wellington, are the manufacturers. The latest development in the sound system, a cluster of norns, the small ends converging to a common point, is employed. Twelve are used, and the result is that sounds of all pitch are spread evenly in every direction desired, giving a balanced sound reception at every seat. Another modern development in the picture projection equipment which has a noticeable effect on the screen, is the use of a high intensity light which shows snow white and not with a tinge of yellow as formerly. In this way, much more detail of the picture is .seen, and it has been proved to greatly lessen the strain on the e vo s. UNION EXECUTIVES. 1908 AND TO-DAY. I * ■ I ■" “ 1 The Union executive in control at he time of the building were: Robt. Semple (President); J. Rostrom (Secretary—subsequently killed on Gallipoli, and who was succeeded by George Hunter as Secretary, when he and P C. Webb came to Runanga; H. Coppersmith, J. Stewart, Chris. Rodgers Joe. Pattinson and J. Jordanadded to after the period of the Blackball incident by P. C. Webb and J Richmond. These were ably assisted by a Social Committee, comprising H. E. Knight (President), A. Boddy (Secretary), R. Knight. H. Knight (now M.L.A., N.5.W.,) Geo. Piner, F. Ellis, A. Ellis, J. Windsor and E. McGinnis. The Committee of the State Miners Union to-day comprises the following:

Messrs Geo. English (President), J. Devlin, Senr. (Vice-President); W. Pendlebury (Secretary); E. Graham, R. Bowden, A. Fisher, W. Simpson, W. O’Neill, J. Musgrove* and W. Amor. In addition, a Committee in charge of the pictures is presided over by Mr J. Winstanley, with Mr J. Gillaly as Secretary. Mr W. Docherty is projectionist. The State Mines SUCCESSFUL GOVERNMENT PROJECT. The Seddon Government secured the rights of the State Mines Coal Reserve more than thirty years ago, the opening taking place in 1906. Since then the production of both Liverpool and James Mines has totalled;. 4,126,678 tons (up to March 31st, 1936).. Of this amount, Liverpool mine produced 2,698,068 tons of bitumous coal, and James Mine’s output comprised 428,610 tons of sub-bitumous coal. The 1935-36 figures, the latest available were: Liverpool 124,015 tons;' James 30,224 tons, the figures for the Liverpool Mine being the third highest output of any mine in New Zealand, and the financial returns th,e highest. Interesting references were made to the development of the mines in the last Statement of the Minister of Mines (Hon. P. C. Webb). The profit for the year ended, 31st March, 1936, after providing for interest and depreciation, amounted’ to £10,182, a decrease of £2,823 on the re-

suit of the previous year. A sum of £8 BT9 was transferred to the sinking fund, leaving a net surplus for the year of £1,363. The steps taken to keep in much closer touch with the Department’s customers throughout the country generally, with a view to improving tne service given, have resulted in increased business. The advertising campaign has been continued in several centres. As an indication of the results being obtained, the Liverpool Colliery worked during 1935-36 24 per cent, greater time than for the previous year, while at the James Colliery the increase was 36 per cent. The employees at the State collieries, In common with other coal-mine employees, received an increase (amounting to approximately £3,436 for the year) of 5 per cent, in the rate of their wages as from May, 1935, out no increase in the price of coal has been made on this account.

The operations of the State coalmines and State Coal Depots for the year ended 31st March, 1935, are briefly reviewed hereunder. The average price realised by the mine on the total sales lor the year was £1 2s, a decrease of 3.6 d on the previous average. The total sales of State coal from the James Mine for the year amounted to 31,763 tons, value £38,766. as compared with 28,965 tons, value £34,885, for the previous year—an increase of 2,798 tons, with an increase in value of £3,881. The average price realised by the mine on the total sales for tne year was £1 4s 4.9 d per ton, an Increase of 3.8 d on the previous year’s average. The sales of coal, etc., through the medium of the depots totalled 105,601 tons, value £158,648, as against 93,074 tons, value £140,586 for the previous year...

Who, from 1906, took an active part in industrial and political affairs in Runanga. During his residence there he held the positionsof President Engine Drivers’ Union, President Social Democratic Party and President of the Runanga Co-operative Society (twice). He, was a trusted delegate of the Miners’ Union during industrial disputes, and on one occasion was sentenced to imprisonment while appealing for assistance for the families of miners on strike. He left Runanga to manage Labour’s first daily newspaper, “The Grey Kiver Argus.’’

DEVELOPMENT OF NEW AREA-

A careful investigation of the probable life of the James Mine was carried out during the year 1935, and it was disclosed that, if continuity ih the supply of household coal is to be maintained, an immediate commencement must be made with tnc openingup of a new area. Before deciding on a scheme it was necessary to put down an additional deep bore with a diamond drill in the Nine-mile Area. This bore has been completed, and confirmed the existence of two seams of excellent coal. Preliminary reading work is now in hand, and a sum of £25,000 has been provided on the estimates to enable

President of the Runanga Co-opera-tive Society, Ltd;, Architect for the ol'd and new Miners’ Halls, and building supervisor during their construction.

The first Engineer for the State Mines, Mr Millar has for many years been closely connected with every progressive movement in the history of the Runanga district. He was the first President and one of the chief organisers of the Runanga Co-opera-tive Society in 1906. He designed the past and present Co-operative Society’s Stores and supervised their construction. He has been_ associated with the Society for 31 years, and is still its chief executive officer.. Mr Millar’s activities towards "making Runanga a better and bigger town, are also amply demonstrated by the number of excellent homes that he has assisted to design. Throughout the length and breadth of Westland the opinion of Mr George Millar on questions of mine engineering or architecture are highly respected by all connected with the Progress of the West Coast.

the new delcvopmcnt to be pushed It is expected that the whole cost of the new work will be met from reserves held in the State Coal-mines Account. HOUSING. Thirty-five loans have been granted to miners and others, under the Department’s housing scheme, to enable the workmen to erect and own their own houses. 1 The loans, which range from £250. to £3OO, are repayable, together with interest, by fortnightly instalments over a term of twenty pears. No new loans were granted during the year under review.

Mr Bowes was formerly a coal miner at the State Mines. His ready application to 'the sound fundamentals of business and his unfailing enthusiasm year by year, to successfully manage the largest business of its kind in New Zealand, are no Small compliment to his business ability.