DISTRICT NEWS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4991, 23 June 1926, Page 3

DISTRICT NEWS.

NGATEA. HALL COMMITTEE. The Ngatea, Public Hall Society Committee met on Monday evening, Mr G. T. Davidson presiding ove,r Messrs G. Phillips, W. J. Clare, Si Phillips, W, McDuff, C. S. McTaggart, W. Schultz,'and S. Tarver, hoh. secretary.

Accounts totalling £9 17s Id were passed for* payment. The monthly statement of revenue for May showed that the hall had been hired on 20 occasions. The income for the. month was £25 16s lid, and the expenditure, including the month’s proportion of the annual charges, wa.s £l4 2s Bd, leaving a profit of £ll 14s 3d. It was resolved that the regular •meetings be held at 7 p.m. on the first Saturday in the. month. Mr Clare moved, and Mr G. Phillips seconded, that in future the hire of crockery from the society for use at dances be discontinued. At the suggestion of Mr Davidson a clause was added to the motion providing that the 5s now charged for the use of the crockery be affiled to the hall hire.

Mr McDuff opposed this, contending tha.t the rates for hire were, already high. II promoters of dances knew that they would have to hire crockery from outside sources and in addition have to pay the high rates, they might reconsider whether it was worth while holding a dance. He thought the move would turn patronage away. The other members .argued that the crockery was a losing proposition. Mr Davidson, in contending tha.t the present charge of 5s was too low, mentioned that from enquiries he had made he. had learned that the charge by outsiders would be 10s a, night. The matter was discussed at. length, dnd eventually an amendment was carried by four votes to three deferring the matter until such time as the charges' for hall hire were reconsidered.

The motion carried at the previous meeting directing that applications be called for the position of caretaker was rescinded, and the present caretaker was granted affi' increase in wages of ‘ss a week. / Messrs J. Costello and H. Duncan, waited upon the. com.mittee on behalf of the Ngatea Football Club and asked for the free use of the hall on the night of .the benefit ball for injured players.—Grafted. Two tenders for the right to screen pictures were received, and that of Mr H. A. Hamilton was accepted. In connection with the proposal to erect a ladies’ dressing-room, etc., h,t the rear of the; hall. Mr McDuff submitted an estimate of £55 for the materials for a lean-to 12ft wide and the full width of the building. Mr Da.vidson moved that the proposal be not gone on with. Mr Clare seconded.

As’ an amendment Mr McDuff moved that if money was available a ladies’ dressing room be erected at the end of the building. Mr McTaggart seconded. On a show dt hands being taken Messrs Schultz, McTaggart, McDuff, and S. Phillips voted for and Messrs G. Phillips, Clare, Tarver, and Davidson against. The, chairma,n, Mr Davidson, gave casting vote against the amendment and declared it lost. His reason was that he did not favour any expenditure whatever until such time as the bank overdraft ,wias wiped off. Messrs McDuff and McTaggart. spoke at length on the urgency of the provision of a ladies’ dressingroom with conveniences, no matter what the cost. The present lack of facilities was a standing disgrace, and it was the subject of much comment. Something should be done. Mr Schultz gave notice c® motion to 'rescind the motion a ; t the next monthly meeting.

Arguing the matter further, Mr Davidson said that the bank would have to be approached. Against this it was contended that the improvement would be an asset. Mr McDuff pointed out that the society had an assured income of £l4O a year from the pictures! alone. Supporters of the, provision of the facilities urged that something be done, but as no finality could be reached the meeting was closed.

PIPIROA SPORTS CLUB BALL. The Pipiroa Sports Club’s reputation for successful danecs, earned many years ago a ( nd maintained up to the present, was enhanced on Tuesday evening, when the club held a ball in the public hall. The attendance was large, but the floor was 1 not overcrowded, and up-to-date and popular dance music being well played by Albert Williams’ orchestra, the evening was thoroughly enjoyed- The hall wa-s decorated with novel paper streamers and crepe paper, the effect being wry pleasing.

A long programme was provided, and se.veral extras were played, so it was not till an early hour that the buses left for the distant parts of the Plains with the happy patrons.