MUNICIPAL PICTURES.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIX, 8 July 1914, Page 4

MUNICIPAL PICTURES.

THE PROPOSAL APPROVED.

Plant to be Ordered.

At the meeting of the Borough Council on Monday Or Grainger in accordance with notice already given, moved; “ That in the opinion of this Oooucu the time has arrived when the OouDoii should run its own pictures.” In moving the resolution Or Grainger said that now that ih< local pictures were being shown eiae' where the Council had to look around them for revenue^ for the Hall. The J capital cost would be £lOl 10s only and the venture should be a financial success The cost of film biro for two entertainments per week would be £3 10s for a second data programme and £5 for a first oluss programme He did not see how the Council could go wrong in the matter. The rate, payers had the Town Hull built aud it was for them to make the best use i f it possible. Or Bennett said be would second the motion. He was sure it was a step in the right direction; Or Honey field said he was totally .opposed to the scheme; He was quite sure Patea could'not run two picture, shows. He did not think the‘matter came within the scope of the Council’s duties.

Or Egan said he did not see the force of Or Honey field’s objection. When the question of Parliament being asked to sanction municipal pictures was brought forward j Or HoneyfieldVas in fa your of them.

Or Honeyfield! Tea I was in favour of municipal pictures in general and not in particular. Or Gunn said be was not against pictures but £l2 a wdek seemed a lot to make up.

Cr eaia he would sooner see the pictures tried once a week at first.

Or Glenny said he would be in favour o! the resolution. It was the capital cost they had to consider, and as that wfcs not large they ought to make a success of the project. His Worship said that whilst he was not 1 altogether in love with this phase of municipal enterprise be could not help feeling that at the' present moment they were “up against it.” As public men they should do what they could to popularise the Hall. They would not if the Hall were their own property sit still and do nothing. They would do something to try and make it pay its way. They had to see the ratepayers paying a rate on the Hail or else to try and do something to make ends meet. If they could not make ten pounds a year out of the pictures, which would be good interest on the capital outlay then they would be doing poorly indeed. He would vote tor the scheme, but before finally deciding on the matter he would want more definite information as to the cost of tanning the pictures. One thing he would be i’o favour of was a sixpenny show. He believed it would pay if this were carried out. Or Grainger in replying to Or Honeytield’s objection said he did not expect tbe enterprise to pay from the jump, but ho did expect it to pay eventually, He would have preferred :o see the Hall let to someone for a picture show. Mr Wilson bad had tbe right to take the Hall but be had gone past tbe Council. He mentioned this fact because he bad heard it reported that Mr Wilson had been refused the Hall, but this was a mistake. Or Grainger quoted Foxton’a figures -showing that the Borough Council there had made a net profit of £444 9s Id on the show during tbe past year. He hoped the resolution would bs carried.

The resolution was then put and carriedi Gr Honey held voting against

On the motion of Or Grainger seconded by Or Egan it was decided that the necessary Gaumont machine be ordered forthwith and the Oh airman of the Electric Lighting Committee be empowered to arrange with the Electrical Engineer for a switch board for the plant.