MEMORIAL HALL FOR OTAKI

Chronicle (Levin), 1 August 1946, Page 2

MEMORIAL HALL FOR OTAKI

FUftTHEXl CONSIDERATION GIVEN PROJECT MEETING NOT WELL ATTENDED The adjourned meeting in connection with the proposed memoriai hall for Otaki was held lasu night. The Mayor, Mr. C. F. Arnmore, presidcd cind tiie 8/fcLendmce, aithcugh representative, was oelow that oi the previous meeting. The Mayor outimed the proceedmgs of the previous meeting and ihe schemes suggested. He also detailed what had been done since then. He said that at the earlier meeting nothing of a definite nature had been decided on, but Mnce then the R.S.A. had met and expressed itself against the suggesv.ion to turn the Railway Hall.into a war memorial on account of the i.act that it was considered unsuitable. The price of the hall, as suggested by. Mr. Webster, was £6000. Further, the R.S.A. considered thau a memorial hail was one tnat tne public should attend to. It was pointed out that an endeavour had oeen made to secure additional ground belonging to Mr. D'Ath, and thus enlarge the domain and have a suitable buiiding erected. Mr. E. T. Bartosh pointed out that the population of the Otaki district was in the region of 3000. yet the attendance at the present meeting was only 56, perhaps with a few others to attend later. He • aid this was unsatisfacfcory. If the maiter was to be brought to a successful issue, then it remained for ihe public to take a greater interast. If the matter was to be gone on with it should be done in a proper way.* An effort might be, made to collect money, but as the meeting was such a small one he ihought an adjournment would bc advisable. An effort could be made in the meantime to arouse public interest. Mr. H. B. Edhouse regretted that ihe attendance was not larger, but said that this was a minor matter. ,He instanced liow at carnival time i .. ttendances at meetings had been j mail. but a very fme effort had /esuited. Personally, he would like to sec the project gone on with. 'hhe R.S.A.. he pointed cut, was decidedly against the purchase of the Railway Hall. Mr. R. T. Mortiboy said that this being the case it would be useless to discuss the purchase of tne Railway Hall, while at the same time he aid not favour a £10,000 scheme. It was pointed out that the proioct was to take the form of o lifility hall and gymnasium, and that the domain might be enlarged and suite.ble buildings erected there. Mrs. Tayior stated that if the 'Railway Hall was taken away the town would be without a hall. Therefore, it was desirable that the i present movement to purchase h should have every consideration. A holl was absolutely essential for meetings, danccs, etc., but it was her desire to see one nearer thtown, rather than the one at tne Railway. The people at the BeacL should have consideration. Mr. Edhouse, in favouring the erect.ion of a suitable memorial. Lhought something of use to the rising generation should have consideration. Mrs. Tayior agreed that the younger generation should be cat ered ' for " and again advocated s mo/e central site for a buiiding. Mr. B. Ryder thought it war desirable that various sports b^die should be catered for, and unles1the domain was enlarged there

would be objections to a buiiding being erected thereont General R. Young agreed that the domain in its present state was not large enough, but said it might be enlarged and suitable buildings erected there. The R.S.A. had a memorial, and what he now desired ro see was the names of the mai who had paid the supreme saerifice on the obelisk. He thought the various sports bodies might help to advance the suggestion oi a memorial hall, thus catering for the coming generation. A hall, if erected, could be made suitable fo»' various organisations, such as Boy Scouts, Giri Guides and so on. He candidly admitted that the Railway Hall was not suitaole as a memorial hail. They liad to have something mere suitable for the soldiers and the youth of Otaki, li the town was to have a war memorial it should be of a worthwhile nature. He hoped that arrangements might be made whereby additional land couid be secured for the enlarging of the domain, if available a utility hall, as well as a symbolical one, could be erected. Mr. A. Marshali stated that while in the Waikato district he had seen a hall which had been erected for £2000 and if another £1000 was added to that a hall suitaule for Otaki's requirements couid be built. The hall that he had seen was quite a good one, whh dancing space, stage, etc., and he had been assured that it was large enough for aimost any communifcy. Up to the present in Otaki they had had little to work on, and he considered that halls that had recently been erected should be viewed. Mr. Bartosh considered that a £2000 hall would not be - large enougln forj Otaki. /uh.m i -> >.■ Mr. Marshali stated his idea was just to point out what "was wanted m Otaki, and what steps might be .aken. Once the Railway Hall was iet go it would soon be found that a suitable buiiding would be wanted. Mr. Atmore favoured an endeavour being made to secure addidonal land adjacent to the doifiam and erect suitable buildings. Mr. J. MacLeod said there was little room for developmenl of the domain, and favoured the appointment of a" committee which could oee what funds couid be raised; then the public couid decide what was most suitable. Mrs. Synnott and Mrs. Wilson both favoured a hail of suitable dimensions, niaintaming such wa,i necessary. It was pointed out that a hall 'was badly needed in Otaki, and the main thing was to get the people interested. Mr. Mortiboy asked what size it was proposed to make the hail and hc- gymnasium. The Mayor repiied that it all lepended 011 the amount of money raised. Mr. Moss considered that all irganisation.s shouid be propcity jaterecl for, whiie Mr. F. Edwards favoured again approaching Mr. D'A.th relative to his land adjoin.ng the domain. Mr. Hakaraia considered the domain was large enough without .akmg additionai land, and favoured a suitable memorial being erected thereon. When the men wcnt overseas nothing was too good ror them, he said, but now that iiiey were fcack it was a different natter. This should not be so. General Young considered that :f a memorial was to be built a j itart should be made with the col- ! .ecting of money. He hacl no doubt ! Ait that help would be fortheom- | ng from the Otaki Maori Racing! Omb, and when sufficient money was raised appreciacion of the men ; Jiouid be chown by buiiding a' juiiaole memorial. • Mr. Marshali proposed that a plan be drawn up in order to pi'ace ,ome thing tangible before the people. Somecning might then result. ' After further discussion it was moved and carried that a war memorial fund be opened, and that subscriptions be invited. The Mayor suggested that represeniatives from each sports body and various organisations tee- elected as a ccmmittee, and to set up an incorporated society. This was agreed to, the committee to be known as th^ Otaki War Memorial Committee. Representatives of the various sports bodies, etc., are to be asked to meet and elect representatives.