tE AWAMUTU BOROUGH

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17984, 1 April 1930, Page 2

tE AWAMUTU BOROUGH

MEETING OF COUNCIL. TOWN HALL PROPOSAL. OPINION DIVIDED. (Special to Times.) TE AWAMUTU,, Tuesday. V A special meeting of the Te Awamutu Borough Council was held last evening, when the Mayor, Cr. C. G. Downes, presided. Also present were: —Crs. G. Spinley, W. Butterworth, A. Brown, C. A. Finch, W. J. North, 11. C. Rainey, F. .T. Gilbert and G. Gifford, and Mr D. Bockett, town clerk. Saloyards. Tlie borough solicitor’s opinion regarding I lie leasing of the borough saloyards was read. The Mayor said apparently it would debar anybody but the present users from using the yards during the lease, which at most couid be for only three years. After further discussion the Mayor pointed out that the companies in occupation had been good tenants in the past, but he thought that their term was not much good to anyone.—lt was decided to advise the companies concerned that a lease could not be granted them for legal reasons. Omnibus District. The matter ol' the inclusion of the Te Awarnutu Borough Council in the No, 4 Omnibus District was again disi •cussed, having been referred hack to the council by the Waipa County Council. The Mayor pointed, out that since then the position had altered; as a suggestion had been made that a new district should be formed, but it would mean a lot of expense, as there would only be one or two buses to operate. —lt was again decided to take no. action iii the matter. New Town Hail. Dealing with the question of the proposed new town hall, the Mayor pointed out that the scheme was not his personal opinion; he had been asked to move in the matter by many ratepayers. It was now 7 the duly of the council to endeavour to gain the consent of the Loans Board. He added that the question of a new library was bound up with the erection ol a town hall. The recent public meeting had shown itself in favour of the proposal. The matter had been discussed by the Finance Committee, who estimated the cost as £12,500 for the building, £ISOO for furnishings, and £IOOO for incidentals; a total of £15,000 to he raised by loan. Cr. Butterworth, chairman of the Finance Committee, congratulated the Mayor on calling the public meeting, and also on its result. To-his mind, the council was now 7 bound to go on with the project. Comment had been made about leasing the hall, if erected, to a picture company. That, he •thought, should be dismissed from their minds. The committee thought they should go on with the project, which meant a town hall, municipal offices, library and reading-rooms combined. He then moved that the council endeavour to gain the assent of the Loans Board towards raising a loan of £15,000 for the purpose he had set out. Not in Favour of Proposal. • Cr. Spinley said he was not in favour of the proposal, and could not support it; he was not sure that the general body of ratepayers would support the proposal. As far as he could see the present town hall was big enough for all ordinary requirements, although possibly once ,or twice in the year it was over-crowded. The council had not yet prepared the estimates; would it not he better to go a little carefully, and analyse the whole position. Cr. Gifford suggpsFed that if this loan was applied for it might jeopardise a wa'cr- loan, which was an urgent /-u . /• '' , ... Cr. Gilbert said he thought possibly the erection of a new town hall was somewhat premature. Cr. Butterworth, in reply, said ac- - cording to the newspaper report of . the meeting there was no doubt that they had received a mandate to go on with the scheme, and therefore they had no option hut to carry on with it as far as possible. Cr. Gilbert suggested that the matter be referred back to the Finance Committee to prepare alternative proposals for the whole scheme, and also for a library and reading-room alone. The Mayor said it would be as well “to see what the Local Bodies Loans Board would do in the matter. C.r. Brown supported the motion, pointing out that the ratepayers had the decision in the finish. The motion was then put and carried by five votes to four.