The Mercury – Thursday 17 January 1924. – Page 10

Set right in the heart of Lutana, the village hall is something of which Lutana villagers, can be justly proud. It is surrounded by fine grounds, where the younger members of the village can enjoy themselves. The interior of the hall is compact, yet allows a maximum of floor space, and a substantial stage at one end of the building gives to the inside a completeness of purpose-that of providing varied recreation.

The official opening of the hall took place last night. Major A. W. Hutchin, chairman of the village committee, stated that he had the honour and privilege of voicing the feelings of the people at Lutana on this occasion. It gave them pleasure to find that people from such a wide area had been sufficiently interested to come along. It was some two years ago, he said, since they had asked Mr Gepp to come and plant the first tree.  During the two years the village had progressed very considerably; more homes had been built by the company and rented to the colleagues at the works, and in the village they had the first community institution. They had been accused of living a long way out of town, and a hall like this was really a necessity to the communal life. The village people had watched this hall grow, and in its finished state regarded it with unmeasured pride. Incidentally, in regard to the educational aspect of the community life, he mentioned that the committee, who had been discussing ways and means in connection with the conduct of the hall, had been in touch with the education authorities with regard to having a kindergarten, and this had now been concluded. On Monday morning the kindergarten teacher and the furniture would be at the hall. With regard to the conduct of the kindergarten, the teacher would need the sympathetic co-operation of the parents themselves. They must assist the teacher if they were going to make the kindergarten a success. (Hear, hear.) The second community institution was well on the way. The builders had promised by March 1 the completion of the co-operative store and in that store they would endeavour to provide the necessaries of life. When the store commenced active operations he wanted to say, let them all get behind it and support it. He was sure they would all agree that the building was not only a useful but a beautiful building, both the exterior and interior, and he wanted to convoy to the architects and builders hearty congratulations on the result achieved, as they had entered into the spirit of the building, and had done everything they could to forward the aims the villagers had in view. Those who had lived in these parts would recollect that 10 years ago all the country-side was farm land. Since that time a wonderful transformation had taken place. He believed that in duecourse this locality would be the centre of a big zinc working community. Some would be living in the village, some would be building round the village, and the hall had been put there by the company for them. It was not the private property of the people in the village. It was in no small measure due to the personality and ability of the general manager that the transformation had taken place. He, the speaker, did not know the full story, but he knew sufficient to satisfy him that had there been no Mr. Gepp there would have been no zinc industry, or it would not have been anything like they knew it to-day. It was also, he hoped, due to them who had worked alongside Mr. Gepp, to feel that they also had played a useful part in the development of this enterprise. He then presented Mr. Gepp with a framed photograph of the hall, and, on behalf of the Risdon Band, two photographs of the band.

Mr. Quinn, chairman of the Co-operative Council, supported the remarks of Major Hutchin.

Mr. Gepp, in reply, opened his remarks by relating an experience when he was enabled to listen to the wireless station at Auckland speaking to a receiver a great distance away. He stated it occurred to him that, provided Australia, with all its wonderful natural advantages, took care of the health of the population and the wonderful raw material, then probably even the wireless wonders to which he had been listening would be very small compared with what would be achieved in the future. It was only the people who had lived in hard and difficult countries who had come out on top. They must realise that without hard work they were sure to lose their strength, grit, and ability. It was a nice thought for them to have put up the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes. Without the help of their friends from the U.S.A. they could not have built the zinc works. He wanted to say how much he appreciated the kind things they had said. The greatest thing he thought they had done here was not to make zinc, but they were illustrating in a very definite way to Australia that they could build a big industry and yet be friends. The hall was an indication of what co-operation could do, and he hoped it would be the beginning of much greater results. He wished to congratulate the architects and builders for the fine job they had made. He thought the village was destined to be the centre of a very large area, for the people interested in the new industry would congregate, and as the children grew up in such a magnificent area they must appreciate the opportunities they had compared with many children in other parts of the world. He wished to thank the band for their kindly thought. On behalf of the company and staff he had the greatest pleasure in declaring the hall open, and wished them God-speed in all the work that would be done there.

Professor Sir David Orme Masson, of the Melbourne University, in a short speech, stated that many of his pupils had made successes of their lives, but there were none to whom he could point who had done as Mr. Gepp. He was gratified to find the two essentials of good organisation and sound co-operation in regard, to the building of the magnificent zinc industry.

An enjoyable musical programme was rendered by the orchestra, Zinc WorksBand, and Messrs. Martin and Cook.