Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23, 1949

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 67, 23 November 1949, Page 4

Bay Of Plenty Beacon Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. WEDNESDAY, NOV. 23, 1949

WAR MEMORIAL PLANS War memorial plans for Whakatane leaped into the limelight' again at Thursday night's annual meeting of the Winter Show Association when the president, Mr H. G. Warren, suggested using the present Winter Show building as the nucleus of a subsidy-carrying fund by realising on it and heading a drive for a memorial community centre at the , This is not the first time such a memorial scheme has been mooted, but the suggestion Mr Warren placed before members of his Association offers a practical way to finance it. He was able to tell his hearers that objections to the renewal of the A. and P. Society's lease of portion of the Domain had now been withdrawn, and that the Minister has told the Borough Council he would have no objection either to the renewal of the lease or the removal of the Winter Show building to the A. and P. ground, provided hV would be used for recreational purposes. This clears the deck, for the amalgamation of the two Show Associations, and negotiations are proceeding. However, Mr Warren pointed out that it might be a better position not to shift the present building, but to dispose of it altogether and go into the possibility of building anew. The suggestion was that, having disposed of the building and paid off the debenture holders, the Association should run a carnival in the town and seek a subsidy on the money thus raised for the development of the Domain as a War Memorial Community Centre, embodying cenotaph or shrine, hall and any other such amenities the town might need, mcluding facilities for outdoor and indoor cultural and recreational persuits.

Mr Warren said he was satisfied that the scheme he outlined would provide the ideal set-up to qualify for a subsidy, and he /felt there would be no difficulty in raising "a few thousand" on which to ask for such a subsidy. Supporting the scheme. Mr A J .Canning opined that £20,000 altogether would be needed to do the job properly, but, with the. subsidy, that should not be impossible. Present indications are that, with the two show associations amalgamated, and with the support of all the other local organisations likely to be interested in the war memorial proposal, the suggested scheme is well within the bounds of practicability, even at the figure Mr Canning mentioned. Certainly, the Winter Show Association's desire not to risk losing its own identity is understandable, and its caution in not committing itself to placing its assets at the disposal of the public at large without further conr sideration is undoubtedly right. But its discussion of the scheme suggested by Mr Warren has made it clear that members think the proposal worth considering further, and has also suggested a p*robable starting point for discussion's at the next public meeting concerning a war memorial.'

ST JOHN APPEAR - Friday of this week is trie day chosen for the St John Ambulance Association's annual appeal and street stall. Donations of cash or saleable goods for the stall are already being solicited. Should anyone feel hesitant about putting his hand in his pocket for this cause, let him consider just what the Ambu r lance Brigades and the Nursing Divisions are doing in this district, i Eighteen men are occupied each Saturday attending winter sports (mainly rugbjr matches) at Whakatane, Taneatua, Edgecumbe, Matata, Te Teko, Otakiri, Paroa, Poroporo arid Awaken, Four women and eight men attend eight hockey fields each week-end, and two women arid two men look gut for possible injuries at indoor and outdoor

basketball games.. .In addition, ambulance men or women attend gymkhanas, boxing and"* wrestling, motor cycle sports, and all public gatherings where they might be able to help anyone who gets hurt. The ambulance, with a staff of four, is always at.call at any hour of the night or day. the crews working on a roster arranged by the Hospital authorities in conjunction with the Ambulance Brigade Superintendent. Nor does St John work finish with taking patients to the hos-. pital. For months now these volunteer workers have helped during the acute nursing and porter 1 shortage by having two trained men on duty at -the hospital every night to help the staff there.

The ambulance has covered / over 10,000 miles in the last, 12 months, with volunteer crews helping district citizens. Medical:'., supplies used helping the sic*;; and injured have cost the ...As-' 1 sociaiion over £2 a week. Uniforms have to be provided. But this Organisation is purely/ voluntary. Its workers get no reward other than the .satisfaction of helping in a worthwhile way wherever help is most needed. The Association has no income other than from donations. If the public will only give as generously of its cash as the St John workers give of their time and specialised knowledge, then this year's collection cannot fail to be' a record.