RICHMOND TOWN HALL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 17 November 1937, Page 8

RICHMOND TOWN HALL

LOAN PROPOSAL FOR £2650 INTERVIEW WITH MAYOR OF BOROUGH POLL OF RATEPAYERS ON 25th NOVEMBER A loan proposal for £2650, for the purpose of erecting a Town Hall at Richmond, will be the subject of a poll of ratepayers in fhc borough on Thursday, the 25th November. An outline of the proposal was given by the Mayor of the Borough (Mr H. Warren Kelly) in an interview with a “Mail” representative. “In the first place,” stated Mr Kelly, “I would like to say that the Council has taken this step in response to many requests, from both ratepayers and residents, and the decision rests with the ratepayers to say, on the day of the poll, whether, the Borough is to have a new hall or not.” “Personally,” said Mr Kelly, “I am of opinion that the borough should have an up-to-date and well equipped town hall, suitable for meetings of every kind and capable of accommodating large gatherings when required. The need for this has been emphasised, on more than one occasion, during recent months.” “The Council,” stated Mr Kelly, “has been busy in the matter for some considerable time, the first step being taken in August of last year when, as a result of numerous requests and some complaints regarding the inadequacy of the present hall, the Council appointed a committee to investigate the position and bring down a report. Many difficulties and disappointments have been met with and it was not until the 14th of last month that the Government Loans Board sanctioned the proposal and approved of the loan being submitted to a poll of the ratepayers. “At one stage,” said Mr Kelly, “we were in hopes of getting a grant from Ihe Government by way of a subsidy for a Coronation Hall. After a good deal of delay, however, this fell through as the Government decided not to make any grants for that purpose.”

PREVIOUS PLANS “The question of a Town Hall for Richmond is not altogether a new one,” he continued. “As far back as 1926 a proposal was submitted to a poll by the Council then in office, of which I was a member, but the undertaking was of considerably greater magnitude, the loan being for £6,500 for a town hall and public library. Needless to say it was not carried. Some years later, in 1930, plans were again prepared for a hall on the site next to the present Council Chambers the loan on that occasion being for £2IOO to erect, furnish and equip a hall much along the lines of the building at present contemplated. At the same poll a proposal was to be decided on a loan for sealing the main roads to cope with the dust nuisance but as there was some doubt about both loan proposals being carried it was decided to withdraw the town hall scheme. It was felt that the sealing of the roads would be of greater importance and of more benefit to the community. “From that time nothing was done until the present proposal took shape last year although the need for a larger hall has been ever present and at times the public has suffered some inconvenience “At the same time,” continued Mr Kelly “I would like to acknowledge the indebtedness of the borough as a whole to the proprietors of the present public hall who have catered for the public over a long period and under difficult circumstances during the past few years. PRESENT PROPOSAL The present proposal is to add to the back of the Council Chambers, incorporating the existing rest room and kitdun, thus making for greater convenience in serving suppers and catering. Other dressing rooms, cloak rooms and conveniences are included in the new building which will be thoroughly modern and well equipped in every way. The capacity of the hall, fully seated, will be approximately 400 and a good part of this will be furnished with comfortable seating. Stage room will be adequate and will also be capable of being used during picture entertainments. A regular weekly showing of pictures has been offered or more than weekly if sufficiently patronised. Revenue from this and other general sources, it is anticipated, will cover the greater part of upkeep and annual costs of the loan. The Council has sufficient money in hand from a recent sale of property in Queen street, to meet interest and sinking fund payments for the first year and, it is hoped, part of the cost of furnishing.

RATE PROBABLE Asked whether it would be necessary to levy' a rate Mr Kelly said: “It will be necessary to collect some rate to make up the deficiency in revenue to meet annual charges and cost of .upkeep 1 't this should not be very great. Allowing that only half the amount required is received from revenue, the rate on a property valued at, say, £SOO shoul I not be more than 5s or 6s a year or on a £ 1000 property about 10s. However that rests with the people. If the hall is patronised there will be no difficulty about meeting expenses.” A PROGRESSIVE STEP Concluding his lx.nark Mr Kelly stated that the step which the ratepay'ers are to be asked to decide at the poll was one in keeping with the progress of the Borough during recent years. It was a growing community and he had every reason to expect greater progress in the future. “Personally, said Mr Kelly. “I have eveiy confidence in the future for the simple reason that Richmond is one of the best little boroughs in the Dominion and as more people find this out they' will want to come here to live."