Little Theatre

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 22, 30 October 1946, Page 7

Little Theatre

PROVISION BY CITY COUNCIL LEASE OF HORTICULTURAL HALL By unanimous vote after a long discussion at a special mealing last night the Lower Hutt Cify Couueil decided to acquire a lease of the Horticultural Hall I'or ten years, in order to meet the city’s urgent need for u home for cultural activities such as the Repertory Society, Competitions Society, find other organisations.

The resolution, which was moved by Councillor E. F. Rothwell and seconded by Councillor E. P. Hay, was as follows: —

(a) That arrangements bo concluded to acquire the I-Tutt Valley Returned Servicemen’s Association’s two-year lease of the Horticultural I-lall.

(b) That arrangements be concluded to acquire a further 8-year lease of the ball from the Horticultural Society.

(c) That alterations to the hall bv the installation of a stage and appurtenances and a ceiling as approved by the Society be put in hand as soon as possible at an estimated cost of 1150(1.

(d) That the foregoing action be accepted as suitable theatre accommodation in terms of the resolution of the special meeting of the Cify Council held on September 13th.

Offer from Horticultural Society The Mayor stated that he and Councillor Rothwell had met the executive of the Horticultural Society and discussed the matter, which had later been put before a general meeting of members. The Society recognised the need of a cultural hall in the city, and offered to lease the Horticultural Hall to the City Council for ten years at a rental of £9 a week, maintenance to be borne by the Council. The Society retained the use of the hall for 16 days a year for its shows, also the small hall for committee and Garden Circle meetings. The name of the hall is to remain as at present, and at the end of the lease the improvements are to become the property of the Society. The present bookings by th R.S.A. are to remain. Councillor Rothwell said that Lower Hutt was the only town in New Zealand without a suitable hall. The Waterloo School assembly hall had been considered, but it was considered too far from town, while transport was unsuitable. With the improvements contemplated the hall would be very suitable for repertory productions, Competitions Society’s programmes, etc. Councillor Hay said an attractive feature was that if the Council acquired the hall it would have a hall that it could call Its own, one suitable for civic functions. After further discussion,, the motion, as stated above, was carried.