NEW HALL AT ALEXANDRA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26216, 29 July 1946, Page 8

NEW HALL AT ALEXANDRA

Sir, —Municipal motion pictures are the answer to the problem of finding the wherewithal to pay for a modern town hall. “ Leave It Alone,” in his letter in Tuesday's issue of the r,aily Times, stresses the point that the present proprietors are both returned men. In one case, that may be so, but tp my own knowledge the other never set foot out of New Zealand. When they took over the pictures they did so with their eyes open, as one of the clauses in their contract states that, should the council decide to run municipal motion pictures, six months' notice will be given and compensation paid. Where is the hardship in this? Are the many "Diggers and Kiwis ” in the borough, as well as the rest of the ratepayers, to be penalised in order to maintain the proprietors in their lease? They will have the rest of their circuit and the ratepayers a new town hall and a steady revenue coming in with which to pay for it. I say, " Cheers to the present council, and go ahead! ” —I am, etc., Timothy Titmouse. Alexandra, July 23.

Sir,— To-day's letters in the Daily Times should make residents of Alexandra wake up to what is happening in their local affairs, especially in regard to the injustice to the two local returned men that has been proposed. Was it not the present president of the R.S.A. here (who is also a councillor) who took such - an active part in the discussions? Why does not the council take a poll of the ratepayers and see who is in favour of this new town hall? If a new hall is built, I hope it will be kept better than the present one. It certainly needs the local health inspector to take a trip around the conveniences, and stir up the council that calls itself " progressive.”—l am, etc. • Wake Up, Alexandra. Alexandra. July 23.

Sir,—” Do unto Others ” concludes nis letter with the words: "This is so, but Roxburgh has a hard-working and progressive Borough Council.” To anyone who may be interested in learning a resident’s opinion regarding the " hard-working and progressive ” Borough Council of Roxburgh, I would like to say that, if the council referred to is all that “ Do unto Others " claims, then my name is Rip Van Winkle and I have not yet awakened! One has but to* look at the state of the footpaths in Roxburgh—excluding those on the main street—to assess the amount of energy expended on hard work. Then, too, look at the tennis courts. Those four beautiful lawn tennis courts which were referred to by the Mayor in a recent statement to a Daily Times reporter are, in truth, four asphalt courts in an absolutely disgraceful condition. And yet; I am told, the Borough Council refuses to assist in repairing them.

Admittedly the Borough Council forwarded applications for the erection of State houses in Roxburgh, but they have done that before. Perhaps the council is hard-working and progressive, but I have yet to be convinced of the fact. After all, is it not for those very reasons that councillors are chosen? Or is it?— Watching.