NEW TOWN HALL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20702, 27 April 1929, Page 2

NEW TOWN HALL.

WORK PROGRESSING WELL. AN INTERESTING CEREMONY. COPING STONE LAID. Between 50 and 60 persons, including several ladies, accepted an invitation from the Love Construction Company to witness the laying of the coping stone of the new Town Hall building and to take part in an informal ceremony which was held subsequently. ./hen the visitors had,reached the top of the buildings by devious stairways and ladders they were welcomed by Mr J. Y. Love, who said he was very pleased to see them present to witness the laying of the coping stone. He mentioned that the gathering was mainly composed of those who were associated in the erection of the building, including the architect, the town clerk, the sub-con-tractors, stone masons, etc. He expressed pleasure at the presence of the Deputy Mayor (Cr Douglas). The job had been started two years ago, and as yet was only half finished. The speaker mentioned that 300 truck loads of stone had had to he hewn and placed in position. As the' coping stone was a big one lie would ask the Deputy Mayor to take one end and Mr Lewin the other. He believed that Mr Lewin had done more than anyone else in - making the erection of the Town Hall an accomplished fact.— (Applause.) The stone was then placed in position by Mr Douglas and Mr Lewin, and the former declared it to be well and truly laid. Both of them expressed their pleasure at having been associated with the erection of the hall. After a verse of.the National Authem had been sung the company adjourned to the Mayor’s room, where afternoon tea was partaken of and a few speeches were made. Mr Love said he would like to make a few remarks about the Town Hall. As they all knew, there had been a good deal of criticism about the erection of the building, but he did not want to go into that or alter people’s opinions about it. He wanted to look at the position from a practical point of view. During the last few years it had been necessary to find very large sums of money for the relief of unemployment, and by erecting the Town Hall they had secured a considerable amount that would have had to be raised in other ways for the same object. The total contract price to-day was approximately £85,000, and that meant a large sum for the relief of unemployment. When the work was finished they would have something very tangible and something to which they could look for several generations as a memento of the progress of the city and the country generally. He understood that 52 years had elapsed since the present Town Hall was built and that it was then hoped to have the new one erected in a few years. It had therefore taken 52 years to raise the money and the courage to launch out on the new project. When the project was fairly launched an organ worth £17,000 had been presented to the city, and but for the erection of the building they would not have participated in that wonderful . gift, which might be the forerunner of others for furnishing, etc. The buildings of the hall had been an important factor in the prevention of unemployment. Apart from the joiners and plasterers the contractors’, wages bill had amounted to £24,000 up to the present, and he thought it could safely be said that out of £85,000 involved in the contract at least £40,000 would- be paid directly in wages. Last winter approximately 30 men were employed in making bricks for the building, and there were many other things required, including 300 trucks of stone from Oamaru, The hulk of the money spent on the stone work was distributed in wages. If some of the £9,000,000, which was stated to be lying , idle in the banks were'put into various projects the unemployment problem would soon disappear through the stimulus of trade. After mentioning that the building was only halfcompleted Mr Love said he wished all those who had worked with the contractors for the splendid manner in which they had carried out their undertaking. They had been a very happy family. The work of the sub-contractors in connection with plumbing, plastering, and other trades had gone on like clockwork and the whole think would soon be an accomplished fact. The speaker said he wanted to convey special thanks to the foreman {Mr Ball) and the City Council’s clerk of works (Mr Dempster), who had been on the job practically the whole of the time. So far as his company was concerned there was no such thing as labour troubles. Ninety-nine .per cent, of the trouble with labour was Dad supervision. In the course of a brief speech, Mr Mandeno expressed his pleasure at having the opportunity of taking part in the proceedings. The Deputy Mayor apologised for the absence of the Mayor, and went on to thank the contractors for having the honour and privilege of taking part in the proceedings. The ceremony that day marked a great forward move in the direction of the completion of the Town Hall. The project had been very dear to his heart, and he did not care one whit what the critics said about it. The day would come when the people would recognise that the new hall was one of the best assets the city had. The object of the City Council was to do the best possible for the citizens. He was particularly pleased to have an opportunity of joining in the function, because he was practically concluding his public life after 20 years on the City Council and Drainage Board. On behalf of the City Council he extended hearty congratulations on the splendid progress made with the work. The work might have been hastened, but it was worth while—taking a little more time and securing the efficient job which was being turned out. They owed a deep debt of gratitude to Mr Ball. They had been closely associated with him, and had learned from time to time of his splendid services. The council was very fortunate in securing such an able man. Cr Douglas said he was proud to hear the remarks concerning the inspector representing the City Couucil (Mr Dempster). The council knew it had a very worthy inspector. Every one of the aub-contractora was out for the good of the city, and he congratulated them on the work they were carrying out. The speaker said he could endorse every word uttered by Mr Love in regard to unemployment. Every year the council was pestered about unemployment, which would have been very much worse but for this great work. He remembered that years ago many firms, including the late Mr W. Dawson, the late Mr A. Burt, and Messrs B&SS and Co, had offered to do something for the city in connection with the building of the Town Hall. That showed the fine spirit of their worthy citizens. The speaker went on to say that Cr Clark and the town clerk had taken a prominent part in connection with the finance required for the new building. He was very , pleased that his last official act had been to place the coping stone in position. Mr Ashton said he was very pleased to see that the Town Hall was an accomplished fact. He had never seen another city as large and as prosperous as Dunedin without a town hall. At present they had nowhere to entertain' people, and he thought the erection of the new building was a wise move. He was inclined to think that they should do more to pusli the city ahead. There was no place more deserving of it. A very old builder had recently said that