THE TOWN HALL TARIFF

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIX, 8 July 1914, Page 1

THE TOWN HALL TARIFF

CHARGES FOR LOCAL ENTERTAINMENTS.

A Redaction Promised

Messrs Hobble and Hemingway waited on the Horough Council at it's meeting on Monday night, with the request that the Council would see it’s way clear to reduce the present Town Hall tariff so far as local institu’ions were concerned.

.Mr Hemingway said the charge for ' the use of the Hail at the present time 1 to any outside theatrical company not j charging more than 3s for admission j was £3, exactly the same as was ; charged any local. Institution lor a ■ dance. If Councillors looked at the | matter in the right light and from a i business standpoint too they would see i that this charge was far from fair. I For instance a big theatrical company j or a “ star ” like Harry Lauder taking the Hall would draw an audience from a wider area than any ordinary- local institution. The Hall being the biggest bu Iding of it's kind between i Wanganui a>-d Hawera, it was n*t»ni! ! y the only building taken by big companies between these two places apd the audience would be drawn fr'm n large area. Local institutions only drew people from the immediate neighbourhood, consequently the local institutions made far loss profit than !ho bigger shows who could afford to pay more. At the present figuie no local institution could run any ordinary entertainment with any hope of success. He hoped the Council would consider the question of so amending the tariff that local institutions might not only bei persuaded to hold all their ordinary entertainments there, but would be induced to make arrangements for the holding of extra entertainments as well. Mr Bobbie said the looel institu ions had to consider tho\ question of whether they should use at a loss or go elsewhere. At the present time they had very great difficulty in making ends meet with a cheap Hall: and they could not entertain the idea | of using the Hall at a loss. Or Grainger said that where the Hall was thrown open to children a great amount of damage was done to the upholstered seats. This was one phase of the matter. The committee based their tariff on that of other towns and Patea was if anything cheaper than thp usual jun. With | regard to the revision of the tariff he thought something should bo done in

this direction, but they would have to peo that that the seats etc., were protected. His Worship said he was in favour of a reduction, biiog made in the local tariff. The Town H*4l was that of the ratepayers end they were worthy gf every consideration. He thought they should be considered before anyone coming there merely for the purpose of taking money He would move that the Town Hail Committee take

into consideration the. question of reducing the tariff for local institutions.

- Cr Qlenny said be was more than 'pleased the matter had been brought up. He had intended bringing forward a notice of motion with a view to local institutions being encouraged to use the Hall ofeener. He considered that those people who gave their services so willingly on behalf of.local institutions in the town should be encouraged by the Council by every means in their power* He would have much pleasure in' second, ing the resolution. / Cr Ho‘>e>field said he too would support the motion most heartily. He agreed with Mr Hemingway, that local people should be encouraged* in preference to those'who we*e merely taking the Hall and taking money out of the town. What he did depreciate was people using the Hall and after* wards corning for a rebate The present depute ion had adopted the right course in coming to the Council first of all. .He had muoh pleasure in supporting their request. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.