A DIFFICULT POSITION.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1741, 17 February 1921, Page 2

A DIFFICULT POSITION.

MUNICIPAL HALL AND THE OPERA HOUSE. The recent complaint regarding the Municipal Hall being used for a concert on the same night as the Opera Houf-e was being utilised for. another entertainment was referred to at the Borough Council meeting on Tuesday. by the Maydr (Mr J. A. Nash, M.P.). The Mayor drew the Council's attention to the fact that the Council had passed a resolution refusing to allow both halls! to be used on the same night. He believed that the J. C. Williamson Company had complained very bitterly about it on the last occasion. He was not going to say that if the J. C. Williamson Company did not come to Palmerston North it would affect the town. At the same time it must be admitted that their shows brought a large number ol people to Palmerston North from the country. He did not think it was right for both halls to be let at the same time, and he moved that the Council adhere to its original resolution. —Cr Broad remarked that both were let for next Friday.—Cr Oram thought that if the lessees of the Opera House did not want the Municipal Hall engaged they should have to pay for the lease of both. —The Mayor did not agree with this point of view, pointing out that the rent of the Opera House had been raised considerably. The Municipal Hall was there for the convenience of the ratepayers when they required it. He thought as they had put up the rent of the Opera House it was a reasonable thing not to interfere with their entertainment by allowing another one to take place at the same time in the other hall.—Cr Eliott ' agreed with the Mayor and seconded the resolution.—Cr Oram mentioned that the difficulty lay in the awkward construction of the Opera House. He moved that the Opera House Committee should endeavour to devise some means of ingress to the Municipal Hall which would not interfere with entertainments in the Opera House> — Cr Broad pointed out that a section of the public whose interests had not been considered were those who paid high prices for seats in the Opera House and who were considerably disturbed by the noise from the other hall.—Both motions were carried.