AN EXPLANATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 2 August 1913, Page 4

AN EXPLANATION.

"To the Editor

Sir, —In reading your report of Wednesday night's meeting of the Hawera Borough Council, in the Star of yesterday, it may appear that I .was somewhat inconsistent in 'speaking against tho motion to approach the ratepayers for a loan of £12,000 for a Municipal Opera House and then afterwards to vote for it. I may explain that after further discussion in which it was agreed that the Opera House loan should be put entirely as a separate issue from the larger loan, also that it should not appear to come as a proposal from the Council, but to meet the wishes of a number of townspeople, -in which case it would not be so likely to prejudice the latter, which is a most important one for absolutely necessary works, I then altered my opinion and thought it might be just as well to ask the ratepayers to express their views on the subject by voting on it, if it was only for the satisfaction of those few people who wish to have an up-to-date theatre. I am quite convinced that at tho present time Hawera is not large enough to support such a scheme as the one proposed. Also,, in the face of the present, and proposed future competition, euch a place would nothing like pay interest of money expended, let alone expenses of upkeep, etc. But as to the other matter, it is high time we carried a loan for the work as set out in the schedule so as to bring the town itself more up-to-date. Absolute necessi^ ties before luxuries and amusements is my creod. Thanking you for the above space. CHAS. JONES. Hawera, August 1, 1913.