PROPOSED MEMORIAL HALL

Chronicle (Levin), 5 July 1946, Page 2

PROPOSED MEMORIAL HALL

ENTHUSIASTIC .MEETING PROJECT FULLY DISCUSSED A. large and enthusiastic meeting i was held at the Civic Theatre on j Wednesday night to consider ohe proposal for the erection of a memorial hall for Otaki. Among the number, estimated at over one hundred, were several ladies. Mayor s Qutline The Mayor, Mr. C. F. Atmore, who presided, said that the puolic meeting of residents of- -Otaki and the ourrouncling districts -had been convened for the purpose of deciding in what way they should worihily commemorate the memory of all those brave men fyom the Otaki township and district, who in ^ the second world war had given their lives -in the great cause of .freedom. After the 1914-18 war public memorials in the form of stone and marble pillars had been most popular, but nowthe'general desire was to have something which could be made greater use of for the benefit of the people, particularly for the rising generation. The result was that utility buildings, hospitals and memorial parks were favoured. In Wellington City there was a suggesj tion to adopt the cathedral project as that city's war memorial. When the war with Germany ended, continued Mr. Atmore, the Borough Council had under consideration a plan to convert the Otaki Domain into a war memorial. Mr A. W. Buxton, of Otaki, who has a Dominion-wide experience in the laying out of public domains and parks, had prepared an excellent plan comprising cricket, football. baseball and basketball areas, croquet greens, grass and hard tennis courts and pavilion, and the whole area was surrounded by beautiful gardens and ornamental trees. A piece of land was to be purchased from an adjoining owner .to give access to Waerenga Road. Subsequently repfesentatives from various sports bodies and other organisations had met the council with a proposal that the memorial should take the form of a utility building and gymnasium, and asked that a public meeting be called to consider the proposal. A sub-commi tt.ee, comprising Messrs. Edhouse, McBeth. Bartosh, M. Baker and the speaker, was- appbinted to go into the project and I„eport back when they had sufficient data. This committee conta'cted the Internal Affairs Department, and the welfare branch had prepared and forwarded a plan of a hall of a fioor space of 60 feet x 40 feet and a gymnasium 30 feet x 20 feet, with adjoining rooms. The estimated cost was from £6500 to £6750. There was provision to enlarge the hall to 70 feet x 50 feet and the gymnasium to 40 feet "x 30 feet, and the total cost of the building would then be estimated at from £10,000 to £11,000. Additional cost would have to be met in equipping' thc building, and in acquiring 'a freehold site. The plan in its present form was not suitable, and would require to be re-drawn. It had been produced merely to give thf meeting some idea of the proppsals In considering that proposal. said the Mayor, the following points should be carefully considered : — 1. What was the prospect of raising £7000 or £8000 for the purpose? (During the six years of war the Patriotic Committee had raised £13,030, of which Otaki had'contributed £9644 and Manakau, Te Horo and Waikanae £3386). 2. When could they reasonably expect a permit to build? On account of the acute housing shortage, especiaily in Otaki, where the borough had not even obtained its fair share of the State houses notwithstanding repeated efforts to get theni, it might be several years before a permit could be obtained. The housing of the people was the first consideration. 3. Some legally-constituted body would require to b.e created to carry out the project and then to control the building afterwards. It would, of course, 'have to be made self supporting. . Moneys would be required for rates, insurance, m^hjtenance and .depreciation. The speaker said that a society, comprising members of the variuus sports bodies and other orgaaisations, duly .incorporated under the Incorporated Societies Act, might meet the requirements, although he would have preferred to see the local R.S.A. handle the project. They had a complete organisation, but for good reasons had declined, although 'they would give everv assistance to whatever was decided. As an alternative proposal to building, said the Mayor, consideration had also been given by the committee to the purchasing of the Otaki Railway Hall and converting it into a memorial hall. This was Mr. R. Mortiboy's proposal, and was worthy of close consideration, as 1 the owner had stated that after the end of this year he was considering closing the hall and using the" building for other purposes. This 1 would be a serious loss, as the hall had been invaluable in the raising of Otaki's patriotic funds. The matter of a Government sub- : sidy for a war memorial had been i iooked into. In response to an j enquivy the Minister of Internal ! Affairs had telegraphed that day as follows: — "In reply your Istter and telegram question of subsidy for war memorial still under consideration by .Gpvernment. Announce-

'ment from Marton definitely incor- j rect. Regret noc in a poMtion u. : advise you definitely just now." The speaker ccnciuded by saying j that he felt sure that Ihe community would give their whole hearted support-to whatever ioim of war memorial was chosen, a... - he then Invited a full discussion oi. The various proposals. Proposal Discussed Mr. H. B. Edhouse seabed that thc ■ R.S.A. was i'utiy aiive to uie need a building and endorsea the rcmarks of the Mayor, aading tha.. the membership of the R.S.A. woc300, 100 of whom resided in Otaki, and who favoured the erection of a memorial building. There , was nt doubt whatever that the R.S.A. would assist, and with me axu o. sports bodies a suitable buiidina could be erected. At the rirst meet!ing of the movement, convened by : Messrs. Knox and Ruie, the mattei "had been well considerea. In answer to a question, Mr. Edhouse said rooms couici ue maac available to any club. At presem there were no clubrooms in Otaki, and the erection of a suitable build- : ing would be most weh me. Representatives of various .s'poi l'.i bodies spoke in support cf the pro1 ject. i Mr. R. T. Mortiboy considered the | raising of £7000 would be a big l undertaking, and favoured securmg !,the Railway Hall. Other speakers gave support and : pointed out that that building could ■ be regarded as a memorial hall, : many of the men who went overseas being farewelled there and 1 welcomed home in the same build- ; ing. Mr. Edhouse moved that a war i memorial in the form of a utility nall and gymnasium, with cl u i • [ rooms, be effected. Mr. Berry sec jnded the motion. Mr. Stan Elliott considered that material would be very difficult to obtain, and until this was availabi he suggested they "box" on as thev : vvere now doing. They had severa: : small halis in the town which couici oe made available for dances. etc. The Mayor agreed that-it mign . be some time before material wai available and a permit granted. sun [ this would naturally cause delay. Mr. Gimblett pointed out that foi ; flve days a week a hall was nci ; used, and he moved that a block of j homes be erected. These wouid i profitable and useful, and would ' pay for themselves in a short spac-- • of time. He thought suitable sec- ! tions would be available, wJhlif i there was nothing more suitable than homes. Mr. Larsen seconded this motion. but on being put to the rneetin.^, failed to flnd sufiicient. support. Several speakers again -spoke v favour of securing the Railway Haland if considered necesssry to mak improvements and addi tions. j was pointed out that if the Railwa Hall was lost to the general puhi: it would be a big loss to the coit munity in general, especiaily as i would be difficult to raise monc without such a building. The ha, in the past had been used fo dances, etc., from which large sum of money had been raised. ■ It was considered by some speak- ; ers that it was not suitable for a memorial hall, but could be made good use of by various sports bodies and cthers in the town. Mr. Mortiboy proposed that the Railway Hall and the block of shopbe purchased. It was possible tha' the whole block could be secured at a reasonable price. This was seconded by Mr. Harold Taylor. While this found support the question of price was raised, it being pointed out that the meeting had no idea of this at the present time. Mr. Atmore agreed that this was a vital matter, and as they had no idea of the price he suggested the meeting adjourn for a fortnight. and in the meantime thah.enquiries be made in this connection. This was agreed to and the meeting adjourned.