NEW APPROACH NEEDED

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 27, 1 December 1950, Page 4

NEW APPROACH NEEDED

Early in September of this year, following a public meeting, a meeting was called of one representative from each of about 60 local organisations and this meeting was constituted into a committee to raise funds for a Community Centre War Memorial. That was nearly three months ago, and in that period the efforts of the committee have been disappointing. So far it das done a little bit of talk and a lot of waiting for the Government to act and the cash results have been about £52.

New approach is needed. The committee meeting iust held was remarkable, more for the people who did not attend than for those who did.

It may be that the basis on which the committee is formed is wrong, and committee consisting of organisations instead of individuals can fall short of requirements and in this case it has done so. There is no need to wait for the Government’s decision. If the pound for pound subsidy is granted, impetus will be given to money raising because every pound collected will mean two. If the subsidy is not granted in full, the public must work all the harder to make up the deficit.

Tuesday’s committee meeting was dull with two bright rays of hope. The Mayoress, Mrs S. S. Shapley, is to be congratulate ed for putting forward the only real money-raising suggestion, a series of street days which could easily raise £IOOO a year in the

three-year period, which, with subsidy, would mean £6OOO. Mr C. A. Suckling also deserves public commendation for his proposal, accepted by the committee, to call in all interested outsiders who may be keen to help. An appeal for helpers to raise funds to erect a War Memorial ' Community Hall would not go unheeded. Men and women with ideas will come forward and with them new life and new activity can be expected. The people can be found who will create the community spirit which is the logical forerunner to a Community Centre. Nevertheless, there is danger of over organisation in that the general committee itself conists of representatives of all bodies in the town. When we remember that this is to be a War Memorial to commemorate the sacrifice of those who gave their lives for this country, nothing but the best is good enough to keep their memory green. Let us get going.