New Britain herald., 1930-04-22
School Board Adopts SIPS Minimum As Rate for HIS Auditorium Rent;
 Refuses Rebates to Two Societies

should serve as an educational Cen- ter that 15,000 would be interested in using. Mir. Levitt felt that if an organization wanted to seat 500 or 900 persons there are smaller audi toriums.
 Just because some organizations wants to put on a great gusto the city of New Britain should not have to pay" MT. Levitt declared. Con- tinuing, he said;
 Personally, it is easy for me to be a good fellow and vote to give the hall free to every organization which requests the use of it but I contend that the taxpayers should not be asked to cxpend money for the up- keep of that auditorium because one organization or another wishes to supply entertainments.
 Let the organizations which have this in mind pay every expense con- nected with the auditorium. We cannot ask the city to furnish stage equipment. and electrical devices
 Secretary Burr said there was one thing he wanted to correct in MT. LeWitt's views. The school board has no legal right to purchase an organ or other equipment with money from the auditorium rental he declared. MT. Levitt said the money could be put into an in- provement fund and an amendment could be passed allowing the board the legal right 10 make improve ments with this money.
 Committeeman Peter J. Pajewshi, a new member, said he believed the l special committees recommenda- tions were worthy. He spoke about the difficulty of putting on show at a rental price of s175 which he declared was prohibitive.
 Mir. Pajewski gave the automobile as an example when he declared that the value would depreciate whether it was being used. Why not use the hall?" he asked in con clusion.
 MT. Levitt declared "The gentle man is mistaken in his opinion tat the price is prollibitive. I think he misses the point entirely. If we rent it for less than it costs we fail in our duty
 Ward Explains Schedule
 Committeeman Ward said the schedule was arrived at after every possible expense had been consider ed. He said he favored renting the auditorium at the lower rate but he did not favor reduction to the extent that the city would have to pay. He quoted figures that were supplied him by an associate in business whc has been director of musical shows for several years. These figures in- clude price rates for auditoriums throughout the country. Most of them showed lower rental rates than New Britain.
 He said the principal vandalism is done by the school children who do not know better. The commit tee was not in favor of road shows according to MT. Ward.
 The speaker said he could not see why show like the Lions should not pay more because it is open to the public at admission rates.
 He said man was coming to tn: meeting to talk about getting the 1 auditorium at the free rental rates but he discouraged him. It was MT. Wards contention that every Tom, Dick and Harry would wan, the auditorium free and each would think his request deserves special consideration.
 Mr. Levitt said he heard yer, little objection when $500 and S7O( rental rates were asked by theaters in this city, but now that the city has an auditorium the rates are the subject of complaint. Continuing he said he did not want to see the school authorities have to ask city officials or the common council fol appropriations for stage equipment
 Judge Morris D. Saxe said one rental rate should not govern the