THE TRADES HALL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22489, 5 August 1936, Page 19

THE TRADES HALL

MOKE ItOOM REQUIRED GROWING UNION ROLLS QUESTION OF NEW BUILDING Continually growing memberships of Auckland unions lias impressed upon tlio Trades Hull trustees the need for remodelling the Trades Hall and redecorating it or erecting another building on a suitable site in the city. Redecoration and remodelling would cost about £3OOO, but a neiv building sufficiently lnrge to accommodate the unions and givo them ample space for meetings would mean the spending of approximately £30,000, perhaps more. The trustees intend to hold a meeting shortly to discuss the position. The present trustees are the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, and Messrs. G. Davis, E. J. Phelan, A. Rosser and A. Watts. Incidentally, Mr. Davis is the only living member of the original board of trustees. Because jof Mr. Savage's continued absence in Wellington, it may be necessary to appoint another trustee in his stead. There was to have been a meeting yesterday morning, but Mr. Phelan was unable to be present and discussion upon the condition of the Trades Hall had to bo postponed. One proposal is to remodel the ground floor and use the space occupied by tho large meeting hall for offices, so that all the unions using the upstairs floors could be accommodated on one floor downstairs. Tho upstairs walls could then be removed and tlie upstairs meeting rooms enlarged. Tho ball in tho basement, at present housing a small printing press, could bo utilised as an additional meeting place, and the printing plant housed in a brick building to be erected at tho back of the Trades Hall building. Even with those alterations, it is suggested, there might not bo sufficient space for the requirements of all unions. The alternative would be tho financing of a new building elsewhere. It was suggested yesterday that what might sway the trustees in the direction of giving serious consideration to the provision of new premises was the present strength of union memberships.