Community Centre

Hutt News, Volume XXII, Issue 3, 30 June 1948, Page 9

Community Centre

NAENAE SCHEME APPROVED PROVISION OF AMENITIES The proposal to provide a community centre at Naenae was approved at a meeting of the Lower Hutt Provisional Community Centre Committee, and it was decided that a recommendation to that effect he placed before the Lower Hutt City Council. If .the Council approved the scheme would be put before th? Govern ment.

A deputation irom the Naenae Community Centre Committee consisting of Mr. W. Mildenhall and the Rev. N. Haig, was introduced by Mr. R. S. V. Simpson. They urged the need of a community centre at Naenae, and presented a petition signed by 1259 householders, representing 65 per cent, of the residents in the area, in favour of the proposal, The petitioners said they considered that the result of the recent poll in the I-lutt Valley (which returned a majority of 346 against the proposed community centres) did not indicate their own attitude, and they requested the committee to proceed with a modified sell 3me for tlm Naenae area.

In a report a sub-committee stated that the estimated cost of stage one of the Naenae • cheme was £60.000, of which it was recommended that the Government contribute haif by way of grant, the to be raised by the Lower Hutt City Council as a loan secured on a rate across all houses in the area, the State to agree to pay an extra amount on each State house equal to the fate on private houses, this amount to be lecouped from the tenant by an increased rent of not more than I '/? i)oi week. Control of the centre should be vested for the time being in the Mayor and two Councillors, with two representatives of the area, tiius giving the controlling interest to the City Council. The proposed centre at Naenae will provide a nail, gymnasium and lecture room.