MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXX, Issue 57, 3 November 1914, Page 8

MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS.

BOROUGH COUNCILS DECIbiON

NO THEATRE IN BROADWAY.

BURNT BUILDINU MERELY TO

BE REPLACED.

The Borough Council hold a speoiar meeting last night to consider the question of re-building the municipal

offices, there being present: The Mayor (Mr W. P. Kirkwood), and Crs. R.

McK. Morison, J. B. Richards, J. VV. Boon, T. Header, J. Masters, J. Fredric, and N. J. King. Cr. Thompson forwarded an apology for absence. The Mayor said that as the Broadway site was free of buildings the question of whether or not the theatre should go on the site came up. As tne question would have to go before the ratepayers when a loan was desired, he moved that the question be referred to a public meeting of ratepayers. All now recognised that the Town Hall was on the wrong site and was a white elephant. Cr. Morison seconded. Cr. Fredric doubted if there was sufficient room on the site for a theatre. The shops would take up 75ft, which would only leave about 75ft for the theatre. He thought the exact position should be ascertained before the public meeting was called. The Mayor said he intended to give such information at the public meet-

ing. Cr. Masters said the position should be fully discussed by the Council before putting the matter before the public meeting.

The Mayor said that if the Council came to a certain decision it might not suit the ratepayers. Cr. Masters said both opinions were represented on the Council, and im-

position would he, as in provious cases, that the matter would bo fought oul in public meeting instead of in the Council.

Cr. Fredric supported Cr. Masters. The Mayor asked whether a decision come to by the Council would not be its final decision ? Would the Council consent to open up the question again at the public meeting? Cr. Bichards said the final decision rested with the ratepayers at the poli. The Council should come to a decision as to what they desired, and when this had been put before them the ratepayers would lie better able to vote on the question.

Cr. King said that at present there was a Town Hall in the town, which cost upwards of £4OOO, and if a new Town Hall was erected what would become of the old 1 building? He could foresee a loss of more than £3OOO. His own idea was to re-erect the shops. library and Council offices, making provision for erection of a theatre on the site if desired. Cr. Morison said the discussion seemed to be in the general question and not on the Mayor's motion.

Cr. Boon thought the Cuncil shuld first of all thoroughly discuss the matter.

The Mayor said the ratepayers would vote on the amount of money to he spent. Ho desired that the Council should have the opinion of tho ratepayers to guide it. Or. Masters thought the position would be that the ratepayers would ho leading the Council instead of the Council leading the ratepayers. Cr. Richards moved as an amondiment that there be added to the mo-

tion a clause providing that the Council should first of all express an opinion on the matter. Cr. Fredric seconded. The Mayor said lie could not agree to tho amendment. The intention oi Ithe motion was to allow the ratepayers to have a say in the location of the building. Cr. Richards said the Mayor's motion would put the matter. before the ratepayers before they had suilicient knowledge of the circumstances governing the position. Cr. King taught the Council room was the proper place for the discussion of the matter.- The Council should give tho ratepayers a lead. Personally he would he opposed to shifting the present Town Hall for at least ten years.

Tho amendment was carried. The Mayor then moved that the erection of Council offices and shops be proceeded with in ferro-concrete on the Broadway site. Personally he thought there should be a theatre on the site, which could probably be leased to Madam Bernard. If it was reasonable, as the Council had done, to suggest the shifting of the Town Hall from Juliet Street to Broadway North, surely it was reasonable to suggest removal to the Broadway site. Until tho Broadway site became vacant he was personally in favor of the shift to Broadway north, ft was not reasonable to suggest that tbo town could do without a theatre—it was an adjunct of modern civilisation. The Broadway north site could not be secured for four years, and the town could not be behind the times for that length of time. He thought any building should be in ferro-concrete. As to tho present Town Hall, it would soon have to be disposed of, and there was a chance of it being taken for a warehouse or leased to tho Defence Department as a drill hall. The frontage of the Broadway central site was 76ft 6in. In a new building three feet would be needed for walls and 20ft for an arcade, leaving 53ft frontage for shops—two of 19ft 9in. frontage and ono of 11ft. Tho shops could run back 50ft and still leave 100 ft for the theatre before the back boundary was reached. As to the section at the back, ho thought there would be no difficulty in securing it. He thought the time bad come for the town to have an imposing Town Hall. It would be convenient to have the theatre in the same building as the municipal office., thus consolidating the Council's property. This was the second occasion on winch tho ratepayers had had an I opportunity of having a theatre on the

site, and he waa aire that the previous ciecision was greatly regretted by the

at©payers

Cr. Morison seconded pro forma. He was opposed to ka»ii>s the theatre in the same building as the municipal office. He did not think it would be ui the interests ol the ratepayers. Firstly, the froutage was too valuable, aud secondly, there was not room. The Broadway north site would be available in four years, which time would be quite time enough to consider re-building. As to the present Town Hall being a white elephant,, he thought the building proposed by the Mayor would bo a greater white elephant. He quite agreed with building shops and offices on the Broadway central site.

Cr. Fredric opposed the erection oi a new Town Hall. The present Hall made a loss and a new one would moan a greater loss. A theatre was a luxury and money should not new be spent on luxuries while necessaries were lacking. Money was wanted for a new pipe line. He objec'ieJ to a building which would not pay its way. The Mayor: i hold that it will pay

its way Cr. Musters said that Broadway central was 110 L the proper portion lor the theatre. Building a, new I .uoii-.j meant hating two white elephants instead of one. He could not agree to bunding a new theatre until tho old one was properly disposed of. The old theatre should be disposed ui before a new one was built. When tho Broadway north site was available it uould be soon enough to go into the question oi a new theatre. Cr. boon opposed tho motion. He agreed with building shops and offices on the Broadway central site. An arcade should be made or one of the shops should be so arranged that it could later mi be used for an arcade. As to tiie theatrical business, ho was convinced that it was suffering through the picture business. When the present Town Hall needed repairiug it would be time enough to think oi building another. It was estimated that the present Town Hail would last lor twenty years, and it had ouly been in use for about fourteen years. Cr Richards did not think the present Town Hall could be sold for anything like its value, and it would be necessary to pay for all time the interest charge of £l5O per annum. If the theatre was put on the Broadway central site, he reckoned that the annual loss to the Council would be about iiIUOO, less, of course, what revenue we got from the theatre. But he thought that seeing that people took their pleasure nightly at the pictures they did not appreciate visiting shows. It was not reasonable to expect the town to stand two picture shows, so that the Council could not hope to use the theatre for pictures unless Madam Bernard leased the theatre, and she might prefer her present premises. He also believed thai if pictures were to be shown the theatre should be built specially for them. He would move as an amendment that shops, municipal oflices and library be erected on the Broadway central site. Cr. King seconded, it was known, he said, that the Town Hall did not pay. Tho Hall was not in the right place, but the chief reason for its nonsuccess was the picture competition, and his opinion was that in future the number of visiting theatrical companies would be even less than in tho past. if the present Town Hall was put up to auction he doubted if it would fetch £3OO, so that there would be a loss of £2500 on it. Money was wanted for a now pipe line. The question of a new theatre need not be discussed for ten years, when tho present Hall would have seen its best days, if tho theatre was erected in Broadway central he calculated the annual loss at £SOO. The Mayor said it had been urged that tho theatre should not be erected in Broadway central because money was needed to purchase the electric lighting undertaking; but that undertaking would pay for itself. It was undoubtedly true that money was needed for a new pipe line. He did not suggest that the Council should run opposition pictures, but ho felt sure that Madam Bernard would be glad of the opportunity of a refusal of the new Town Hall. His idea regarding the present Town Hall was to lease it, not to sell it, though the revenue, oi course, would not be the same as a: present. The town could not put up with the present Hall until such time as it rotted away or was liunied down. If Stratford did not have an up-to-date theatre the residents would go to adja cent towns which had proper accommo datioii. The amendment was carried. Cr. Fredric gave notice to rescind the resolution previously passed, wliioij provided for a meeting of ratepayers Cr. Masters suggested that coinpoti tivc designs be called for the building the winner to get a bonus of £'2s, and be given charge of the work. He moved ill that direction. Cr. Fredric seconded, on condition that the provision for a bonus was deleted, which Cr. Masters agreed to He thought competition should be con fined to the two local architects, an outside architect to judge the de Cr. Masters thought the competition should be open to any New Zealand architect.

Or. Boon saw no necessity for calling for competitive designs. The Mayor said ho could see no reason for competitive designs, though he would if a building costing £12,000 was to be erected. He moved as an amendment that Mr Healy bo asked to prepare plans for tiie building.

Or. Boon seconded. Or. Masters thought lfcth local archi torts should have a chance. Or. Mori.son said the course ho favored was for the Council to lay down what it wanted and to get the architect to provide for it. Or, Richards thought the Council cnuld not nfc the present time give an architect the data he would require.

Cr. King thought a small committee should be appoint oil to prepare data for the architect. Or. Boon explained that he had no objection to the name of cither architect being put in the amendment. Tho Major said he had nothing against Mr Bliek and bad merely men. tioned Mr Heal.v because ho had previously done most of the Council's work. The amendment was carried. A committee consisting of the Mayor and Crs. Boon and King was appointed to confer with the architect.