OPERA HOUSE

Wairarapa Daily Times, 18 February 1935, Page 5

OPERA HOUSE

SPECIAL MEETING OF TRUST,

CONFERENCE PROPOSED

A special meeting of the Masterton Urust Lands Trust was held this morning, Mr T. P. Watson presiding. After inspecting the Opera House building, members adjurned to the Board room to consider the matter. tnsidcrable discussion took place, it was decided, on the motion of Mr A. O. Jones, seconded pro forma by Mr H. P. Hugo, that the Trust as a whole arrange to meet the Borough i Council and the Chamber of Commerce .in a round-table conference to decide whether or not the Opera House was essential to Masterton. Commenting on the question of financial arrangements to put the Opera House in order, Mr H. P. Hugo suggested that the Trust could make application to the Loans Board for a loan of £IOOO to complete the repair of the Opera House, Ho thought that if the building were let for forty nights at £5 per night rental this would bring in £2OO per year, which would more than cover the cost of interest and sinking fund on the loan and necessary maintenance. Other members considered that £2OOO would be required to put the building in a safe and usable state. An amendment moved by Mr Eton that immediate steps be taken to put the Opera House into operation. In seconding the amendment, Mr R. Krahagen thought it/ essential to put the Opera House in proper repair, as it was a necessity to various institutions is the town. They charge a new Jfcedule of prices to .-suit local •WsMr J. Macfarlane Lamg said he was (opposed to reconditioning the building, (as it was a white elephant and always would be a white elephant. He was unable to convince himself that there were any further days of usefulness which would sanction spending a large sum of money. He considered that it should be pulled down and that modern flats, which would return a revenue, should bo placed on the site. The Trust bad such heavy commitments to-day, and would have to be careful or the Trust would have to cease to function. He regretted having to oppose the amendment.

Mr Jaekson considered that repair

ing the Opera House would be a very poor business proposition. Perhaps it could be handed over to some private body or company, who would put it in order. He was definitely opposed to crippling the activities of the Trust by spending more money. It would be better to pull the building down. The chairman, Mr T. F. Watson, said it would be essential to put the Opera «use into an absolutely safe state of •air, otherwise the public would not use it. They could not borrow £2OOO on a supposed income. The amendment was lost on the casting vote of the chairman.