TOWN HALL TALKIES

Northern Advocate, 6 May 1930, Page 4

TOWN HALL TALKIES

INSTALLATION OP BOX. Messrs Puller-Hay ward Ltd., recently asked that the operating box at the Whangarei Town Hall be enlarged to .accommodate talkie equipment. The Town Hall Committee obtained three estimates for alternative schemes from Mr Morgan, architect, and recommended the adoption of one of these, which provided for a new -staircase upstairs, on the condition that. PullerHay ward Ltd., paid half the cost. In moving the adoption of the report, Or. Curtis said the estimate was £9O, and if the picture proprietary provided half of this, the cost to the borough would not be more than, necessary to provide a .safe entrance to the dress circle, a very necessary matter.

Cr. Carder asked whether there were any figures to- show what return the lease of the Town Hall for piatures was producing? The Town Clerk said that after meeting, interest and sinking fund -on the building, the annual rental of £BOO left a profit of £2OO. Cr. Gardner asked who til or after allowance was made for rates and taxes, the rental would pay a private lessor? The Mayor replied that a good margin x>f profit would remain. Cr. Brake asked whether the installation would interfere with the proposed additions to the Library? Cr. Brainsby, chairman of the Library Committee, replied in the negative. The Mayor said some discussion existed outside as to whether it was the function of the council to make provision for talking pictures, but he considered that the best should be done for the people who owned the hall, and ho was in favour of the recommendation being given effect to. For-an expenditure of £4O the council could make the municipal theatre up-to-date, and if this was not done it might fall back upon the borough’s hands, and result iu a loss of £I2OO annually. “Flesh and blood acting is done for a few years,” Mr Jones continued, “and shadow acting holds the stag© meanwhile. If we make provision for the talkies, the Town Hall—no matter how , many other theatres are built—will always command a certain amount of patronage. ” Cr. Jackson agreed that some consideration should bo shown tie lessees. The motion adopting the report was carried.