COUNTY HALL AT FAIRLIE?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21186, 5 November 1938, Page 8

COUNTY HALL AT FAIRLIE?

Council Decides on Poll Centennial Memorial FAIRLIE, November 4. The ratepayers of the Mackenzie County are to be asked for their opinion, through the medium of the ballot box, of a proposal to erect a County Centennial Memorial Hall in Fairlie. This decision was reached at yesterday s meeting of the Council. Mr J. E. Shears (who had been appointed secretary) advised that at a recent meeting of representatives of local institutions and residents, he had been instructed to write asking if the Council (seeing that the purchase price of £2250 for the Aorangi Hall seemed too great) would consider the erection of a County Centennial Hall for the district at an approximate price of £3500. It was felt by the residents that a County Hall was necessary for the welfare of the district. Offer Rejected On behalf of the trustees, Mr S. Wreford wrote stating that they could not consider the offer made by the Council for a lease of Aorangi Hall. There had been no request about money, said Mr C. J. Talbot, but he thought that the Council should consider raising a loan for the project. If the whole county jollied in there would be a small burden on the ratepayers, and the hall could be a fitting district centennial memorial. Mr C. V. Kirke: Do you think if a poll was taken over the whole county the loan would be carried? Mr Talbot said that the loan should be spread over the whole county, but if a poll were taken on those lines it might endanger the project. If it were taken over Opuha and Fairlie he had no doubt that the loan would be carried. Mr Kirke: Why bring Opuha alone into it? If the poll is to be taken have it taken over the whole county. Mr Scott moved that a poll be talent over the whole county on the question of the erection of a Countv Centennial Hall. If the ratepayers wanted a hall he would be very glad to see a building in Fairlie, said Mr Kirke. Some of the ratepayers in his riding would like to see the hall, but others would object to an increase in the rates. The Ratepayers to Say "I am definitely opposed to this Council having anything to do with a hall. If the ratepayers say they want a hall, well good luck to them.” said the chairman <Mr W. R. Davison). The Albury Riding had three halls, said Mr P. Kidd. The people in the district had erected the halls and it would be grossly unfair to expect them to pay something towards a hall at Fairlie. It would be unfair even to include Albury in the poll. Mr Kidd added that when he spoke on the matter previously. Mr Murray had thought that Tekapo also should be excluded. That, however, would not be fair, as Tekapo had no meeting place. Voices: They have a church. "Yes, but you can’t hold a banquet there,” said Mr Kidd, who moved that Albury be excluded from the poll. “I think, he added, “that you will have a better chance of carrying, the proposal if you keep Albury out of it.” The chairman seconded the amendment. He said that a very small percentage of Albury people would come to Fairlie to use a County Hall. "A Narrow View” “A narrow view,” was how Mr Scott described the opposition to the scheme. The Albury Riding was to be congratulated on the public spirit it had shown in the provision of halls in the district and it should assist now in the provision of a County Hall. A Government grant would be available for the hall, and spread over the whole county, the cost would not be excessive. Mr Scott appealed to the Albury representatives to withdraw the amendment. “Would Kill Scheme” “I am sure that the Albury vote ould kill the scheme,” said Mr Kidd. Mr Allan: Let Mr Scott take the chance. Mr Davison said that if it was to be a centennial hall it must be a county affair. He would withdraw his support to the amendment. The amendment lapsed, and the motion was carried, Mr Kidd dissenting. It was agreed to ask Mr P. W. Rule, of Timaru, to prepare plans for submission to the Local Loans Board. Mr Kidd suggested that it might be possible to include an annexe in the proposed plans for a Mackenzie Museum. Mr Scott: We will have to be careful. If we go in for anything too expensive the scheme might be turned down.