HUNTERVILLE NOTES

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10737, 30 August 1913, Page 5

HUNTERVILLE NOTES

PROPOSED TOWN 1 HALL.

From Our Own Correspondent.

The agitation for a Town Hall for Hunterville enterod into . another stage on Thursday night, when a well attended meeting of citizens was held in the Argyle Hall. The meeting was convened by the Town nßoard,.who desired an expression of opinion from the ratepayers to assist them in deciding them as to advisability of holding a poll on the question. Mr W. Meldrum occupied the chair, and members of the Town Board were with him on the stage. In opening the meeting the Chairman pointed out that by the Act of 1910 it was quite unnecessary to hold snoh a meeting as the matter was entirely in the ..hands of the" Board and the onus of "holding a poll rested entirely in their hands. They had, however, always desired to take the feeling of the people and had.called the ratepayers together to guage the feeling of the. <;own. He pointed out that if the present scheme meant more rates he for one would oppose. If, however, it could be shown that a Hall could be erected without adding to rates that would be a different matter. . '■■ •; .

Cr. F. O. Berry stated that he was of opinion "that the time was ripe for the town to possess a hall whioh would be a credit and also a possible source of revenue. He (quoted architects' opinions that a hall could be, erected on the site reserved for it at a cost of £I2OO, and showed by figures that he had computed that at chis expenditure on building alone the hall could be made not only selfsupporting but also even in its early stages show, a profit if only a small oue. If of a hall meant adding to rates he would oppose it, but he could not see how it could possibly ever be neoessary to collect a rate. He quoted the case of Waver ley Town Hall erected at a cost of £I2OO exolnsive of fittings. Waverley had for this sum got a hall to'seat 700 comfortably. The seats cost £l3O. Last year they made £6B clear from it.' Cr, Street did not think they could erect a hall -for under £1500.! He was opposed to the scheme. -There were olher things required more than a hall. He .had made up figures which showed that the estimated expenditure per annum would amount to £IBO, and the receipts to £l2O, showing a deficit of £6O. In answer to Cr Taylor lie stated that the figures were merely his calculations.

Or. Hurley did not think they wanted a hall, and thought those who wanted it could pay for it. If the promoters of the scheme would guarantee that 'they would pay his share.of any rate that would be struok they could have their hall. Mr H, J. Middlemiss gave data relating to the Town Halls at Manaia and Foxton. The former was built at cost of £ISOO. In rentals they had received £ WO, and the expenditure had been £IOO. No,, rate had been collected, foxton Hall was a larger affair and they ran their own picture show. The hall bad shown a profit of £BOO. He thought it abpolutely necessary that a town of the importance of Hunterville should have its own hall. It would be the means of bringing revenue to the town and many companies would come here if there was a decent place to show in.' .

Or. T. Taylor gave very full details of Waverley Hall. He quoted this as Waverley. was the nearest place in point* of size, etc., that he 'could compare with Hunterville. The Waverley hall cost £1607. Fittings and incidental expenses brought the initial cost to £3200, but this sum included items which would not be incurred in the present case. Beading from the last balance-sheet he showed the profit "on the year's working to be £SB. This hall was run by a Company and bad expenditure of management," etc, which would not fall to' the lot of Hunterville Hall. He was strongly in favour of the scheme and was quite certain that a rate would not be necessary. Mr Mair said that he had come to the meeting with quite an. open mind. He had made a note of the figuies which had been given by the speakers, and assuming the hall to cost could see the hall would in all probability be self-supporting. In fact his figures showed a small credit. At the same time he thought that the question of site should also be put to a poll of ratepayers. He oriticised the action of the Board in. putting their seotion on the corner qpposite the Bank up for tender -while this matt9r was being discussed. He wonld have left it open to the ratepayers to have used that site if tney. had felj; so disposed, and thought that even now nothing should be done With those sections until the poll had been taken and Chat the question of site should be embodied in the poll. In> explanation. Mr Meldrum stated that the matter had already been before the Board and in view l of the fact that we already had-a reserve for the purpose of a Town Hall and that .the sections referred to would be the means of bringing con- , siderable revenue to the town the. Board had called tenders which would close in a few weeks' time. It was, of couise, not too . late, but. if the offset price was reached the I tenders would probably be'accepted. j Or. MoManaway could not possibly | see how 1 a n#w hall could be trade to pay. He was not speaking as the owner of the Arpyle Hall. >He.had' always done his best for Hunterville and hoped to coutinue to do so. He had some experience of running a hall here He could not get-a .third of that. The ball had )aot paid and hedid not see how a new one was going to. He had recently got ten.-? ders for adding a supper room, etc., and. found it would cost £250 , They must also remember that there would be opposition. This hall was going to stay here. Mr T. Low. referred to the condition of the present hall. He knew •from experience what it was to stand on the stage there in the draught to. sing. He knew Or. MoManaway well enough to- know that if ."-he made to see that a new hall would, not be any burden on the ratepayers the fact of him owning, the .present hall would make no difference. He "had . prepared figures which he rend. Basing the cos 6as £ISOO whichjwas the highest estimate which had beau given that night and calculating the expenditure on a generous basis his.figures showed an expenditure of £207 and receipts of £196. This left a probable deficit of £ll;*nd he WOT sure; that even if thiß high expenditure was reached: lid ratepayer^

The Rev. Grant Cowan stated that be felt" the importance -of Hunterville demanded a hall worthy of the town. The present place was qnite impossible, and he knew that many' people stayed away from functions simply for this reason.. He was sure that Or. McManaway's opposition was in what he considered to be the interests of the ratepayers;; in fact, he considered that Mr McManaway had been most publicspirited in keeping this hall open to the people for so . many years at a loss. -He, Mr Cowan, was_ not a business man, but he thought it a pity to spend £250 on such a white elephant. He hopei this poll would betaken and the people given the opportunity of saying whether they wanted the'hall or not. Mr Mair asked the chairman whether he would take a resolution?

. The Chairman explained that it was not necessary as such a resolution wouLd have no legal effect, but he would take one Mr Mair moved "That in the opinion of the meeting the Board should take a poll as to the erection of a Town Hall; *ha*t the question of a site should be embodied in that poll, and also that the tenders of.the town sections should be held ovsr until the poll had been taken."

Mr Low moved as an amendment that the latter part be deleted.

The amendment was carried

The Chairman said that the matter would have the attention of the Board at the next meeting, and declared the present meeting closed.