WAIMATE COMPLAINT IS MADE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVI, Issue 21379, 23 June 1939, Page 4

WAIMATE COMPLAINT IS MADE

ilo Hall Available For Dances

Large Fixtures Being Held In Country

Bitter complaints because there was no large hall at present available in Waimate for dances were heard yesterday, when opinions were sought In connection with the proposal to build a town hall. It was contended that the position was disgracing Waimate's civic pride, and that the Borough Council’s decision to make investigations in connection with a town hall was not made before time. One man described the proposal as “the greatest thing ever brought forward in Waimate,” and remarked that the town would not even start to be a community centre until it had a town hall. A number of business men said they required more facts, particularly with regard to cost and the likely charge on ratepayers before they would give a definite opinion on the hall proposal. The fact that dances had to be held out of Waimate was a subject for general complaint, and it was contended that the progress of the borough had reached a pretty pass when it could not provide a building for such functions. Instead of district people being attracted to W’aimate, the people in the town itself had to look outside the borough boundaries for halls to hold dances. ■ A number of comments followed on similar lines because of the present impasse. Waimate, with all its great civic pride, had been allowed to reach a state in its progress where its people had to go outside the town’s environs simply to dance. A town which had claimed credit for its civic privileges and advantages could not provide a large hall for its citizens to take part in the ageold pastime of dancing. Another man who was approached said that dances of any size had at present to be held out of Waimate. The Hunt Club’s dance this week, _-.s an instance, was being held at Hook. That position had been brought about because the principal hall in the town had not been granted a licence by the Borough Council owing to the suitability of its supper facilities beinj In doubt. The fact that dances had to be held out of Waimate did not indt -i e that the town was developing into a community centre. The impression created was that the district’s activities were being decentralised. Th: ? people who desired to make the town a community centre would have to do something about the hall question before they could advance their aims any appreciable distance. The present position was a farce. One reason advanced against the proposal was that Waimate ratepayers were shortly to be faced with a large loan for an improved water supply. Rates had recently been increased for the general maintenance of the town, and the financial, aspects of the hall question would need t' be clarified before unstinted support was forthcoming. There was not the slightest doubt that a town hall was needed, but it seemed to be a generally accepted rule that halls did not pay for themselves. Another opinion advanced was that Waimate already had creditable civic facilities, but it needed a hall to make the town properly up-to-date. The lack of a propel - hall was a disgrace to the town. The rate required could not be that heavy, because the hall would surely return some revenue. One profitable dance would pay a large share of the interest on the loan. To make the town a real community centre, a hall would have to be built. DISTRICT HUNT POINT-TO-POINT ARRANGEMENTS The chairman reported to a meeting of the committee of the Waimate District Hunt Club on Wednesday night that arrangements were well in hand for the Point-to-Point to be held tomorrow at “Crouch." A good course had been selected and the whole of the steeplechase would be visible from the hillside. The course would have 19 jumps and was nearly three miles long. Those present at the meeting were Mssrs N. Rattray (chairman), J. C. S .udholme, E. B. Prase, M. J. Cooney, L. Cooney, L. M. d’Auvergne, Rex. Harper, A. Medlicott, J. Sutherland, J. Waldle. New members elected were: Messrs P. Morrison, R. H. Balfour, G. Provan, W. Hobbs. The president stated that the following horses had qualified during the hunting season: Royal Road, High Speed, Golden Glow, Checot, King Icel, Erin's Royal, Kildown, Royster, Rex, Hot Tea, Willow Glen.