WAR MEMORIALS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 100, 28 February 1947, Page 5

WAR MEMORIALS

LATEST GOVERNMENT CIRCULAR COUNTY COUNCILLORS VIEWS In a recent circular the Department of Internal Affairs have notified Local Authorities who desire to take advantage of Government Subsidies for War Memorials that • they should make application outlining their proposals in the following manner:— 1. Date of approval by local authority and any recommendation. 2. Nature or form of memorial :• Full particulars indicating:— (a) Immediate proposals. (b) Ultimate development. (c) Approximate estimate of cost itemised as necessary. (d) Sketch plans. -(e) Drawing of location of the proposed memorial in its relation to the main roads, public buildings and reserves of the district. (f) Present ownership of land which it is proposed to use. (g) How centre will be identified as a war memorial. 3. Need for Centre. Results of any study made of the district to be served by the proposed community centre in order to discover:— (a) Population which centre will serve. / (b) Organisation, public bodies etc., interested in and supporting the proposal. •(c) What facilities already exist, (d) What needs are at present unsatisfied. 4. Control and Maintenance. (a) In what local authority will land be vested? (b) What local authority will control and maintain the centre? Discussing the subject last Tuesday, the Whakatane County Council had an interesting expression of opinion from Cr G. Cawte, who stated that he held no brief for any district desirous of erecting a hall or a -community asset under the pretext of a War Memorial. Anything to indicate the gratitude of a community for the sacrifices of its men In the war should be of a direct nature, such as a scholarship for the sons of the men who fought or something of a like nature. The districts who desired community centres, should subscribe for them in any case from their own purses. Cr McGougan differed strongly, and outlined what Taneatua proposed to do. The district hall would be taken over and renovated so that all the young boys and girls of the community could share in the new asset. He considered the Government’s policy a right and proper one. Cr Wardlaw pointed out that scholarships for the sons of ex-ser-vicemen in difficult circumstances were established after the last war .and he thought were still in force.