MUNICIPAL USE OF REGENT THEATRE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 October 1930, Page 6

MUNICIPAL USE OF REGENT THEATRE.

QUESTION OF MONTHLY RIGHT

RAISED,

APPLICATION .TO BE MADE FOR ONE NIGHT ON BEHAjuF OP CHORAL SOCIETY.

The question of the availability of the Regent Theatre to the Levin public by way of direct lease for one night a month was discussed at the meeting of the Borough Council on Monday evening, when a letter was received: front The secretary of the Choral Society, Mr W. G. Bishop, applying for the use of the Theatre by the Society on the night of Friday, November 7th, under clauses 19 and 20 of the lease to the picture interests. He enclosed a copy of the charges made by the theatre management for the society’s last performance. Mr H. J. Jones, chairman of the Choral Society, wrote stating that the society was a purely honorary organisation, and that every member paid an annual subscription. If at any time the Society was dissolved, any moneys in its possession would be given for charitable distribution. Half the proceeds of the opera ‘ ‘ Mari tana, ’ ’ which it was proposed to repeat on November 7th, would be handed to the Home and Schools Association for the heating system for the Levin District High School. The society could not make ends meet on the present charges for the theatre. The Mayor (Mr C. Blenkhorn) said that the position was becoming somewhat acute. There was a feeling in the town that the public had a right to the hall at a nominal cost for one performance or function per month. The position was by no means clear from the lease, but there was not the slightest doubt that the public was becoming very restless in the matter, and the Council would have to bring it to a head in some way or other. The lease laid it down that the Borough could have the theatre for one day a month, under certain conditions, for public honorary or public charitable purposes onlj r . Who was going to deline what was a “public honorary’’ and what was a “public charitable’’ purpose? The latter phrase lent itself to comparatively easy interpretation, but what was a “public honorary’’ purpose? The only thing to do was to get an opinion on the matter, and ask if the Choral Society would come under either of those definitions. It was a question which the Councill could not solve for itself. “Suppose,’’ the Mayor added, “that we gave the necessary notice and told the society that they could have the theatre for a certain night in a particular month, and when that night arrived the proprietors locked the gate. What a position everyone would be in! ’ ’ Cr. Parker; Cancel the lease. His Worship: We would have lawsuits. We don’t want to do that. Cr. Parker stated that the Borough Solicitor had informed him that the clause reserving a night to the Borough was valid and sound. It had been drawn up by that officer. His Worship; But what is the definition of these particular purposes? Cr. Parker: He named societies in Levin —the Choral Society, Friendly Societies, the Fire Brigade—and said that ’ any of them was an honorary charitable organisation. He said very plainly and clearly to me that that ia absolutely valid and enforceable. We pay a subscription to the Municipal Association; and do you not think that the best thing we can do now is to submit the lease to the solicitor for that association, at the same time naming various honorary organisations that are known in other towns as well as our own, and ask for his opinion on that lease? That would not cost us anything, and it would be within the mark to get it. His Worship: That has already been done. We have not received a reply, and I do not think we shall, because it is practically asking him to advise on a private matter. Cr. Parker; We have not been told that. His Worship: That is a reply we have been expecting —the reply we shall probably get. The event will show whether I am right or wrong. Cr. Parker: How long is it since you sent the letter? His Worship; About a week. Cr. Parker: Wait for the reply. The Mayor said he had known the late solicitor for the Association to turn down a number of requests on the ground that they dealt with domestic matters. His Worship moved that in the meantime the Council obtain a written opinion from the Borough solicitors. Cr. Parker: What about the time? The date applied for is November 7. His Worship said that 14 days’ written notice that the theatre was wanted was required . He added that he had asked the Town Clerk to write to the director of the picture company and state that he (the Mayor) would like to interview him; the speaker wanted to thrash a few things out. Cr. Parker: Had you not better take the provisions of the lease for this? His Worship: On this we have quite a big standing, to my mind. It is to the interests of the public generally that we should have that hall. Cr. Parker: The lease was subject to that. The Town Clerk stated that the position of the Choral Society was that if it had to pay the same rental as on the last occasion, there would be no show. The rental then charged was £l7 10s. Cr. Parker: We have only got three days before giving notice. His Worship: We will make application in the terms of the lease. On the motion of Cr. Parker, seconded by Cr. Herrick, it was resolved that application be made on behalf of the Choral Society for the use of the theatre on the night of November 7th, in the terms of clauses 19 and 20 of the lease.

A slight cold n!»uc3 much misery But '‘NAZOL’' gives prompt relief kccT> a bottle handv. New don-