WAR MEMORIAL HALL

Chronicle (Levin), 9 April 1946, Page 3

WAR MEMORIAL HALL

DECISION OF PUBLIC MEETING Shades of "Snake Gully""was the high-note of a public meeting held in the Renown Theatre last evening. The meeting was called by the .Mayor (Mr. R. E. Downes) to decide what form of a memorial the public desired to be erected to those who fell in the- 1939-45 -war. ; Despite this very serious subjeet the total response of : a dfsinterested public was a sum total of 56 out of a possible 700 to 800 who make up Shannon and district. The meeting developed into an open forum on all subjects that included amongst them the desirability of a resident doctor, public hall, public park and public conveniences, and public men also decided that this was the place to make their alley good for their deeds or misdeeds over the years. Eighty per cent. of the people present were unsure of the responsibility thrust upon them in having, from so large a district, to decide this issue— never have so few had to decide so much. Motions, amendments, and counter-motions flew across the hall like machine-gun fire. To some extent the Mayor was to blame, for as chairman of the meeting he gave the impression that he desired it to be as informal as possible, and this to some extent was desirable as it gave those present who were not used to public speaking a chance to air their views. Unfortunately, those who were present not suffering from an inferiority complex, seized the chance to do a spot of verbal racketeering. Many s'ound suggestions were offered that wo.uld have been beneficial to the town, and many of these could still be brought to a public meeting, but not to a meeting deciding a war memorial. The town fathers, that is the Borough Council, came into the picture on many occasions, but critics aired their views on the condition of the public domain. The town fathers left the impression that they could not- personally police this area. It is time some public spirited citizen collected- the £5 advertised. on the partly defaced notice on ihe pavilion. Eventually ; " Mr. Roy Hook, president of the Shannon branch of the R.S.A., moved the motion that cap--tured the fancy of most of those present. Mr. Hook apparently voiced the opinion of the majority of his organisation. In fact, he stated, that this* was so, although he had some dissenters from* the organisation that it was not. It is indeed a pity that the public of Shannon and district had not sufficient interest to attend the meeting. It is also regrettable that such a subjeet as a soldiers* memorial had to.be the'clearing ground ' for- many subjects not' .connected ' with the object of the meeting. "It now remains for the people to get behind the decision of the meeting with more vigor than they attended it, and make a memorial hall a fact — also a fitting token of remembrance to those boys who made the supreme sacrifice on the field of battle for democracy.