GOVERNMENT S CHOICE OF WAR MEMORIAL

Chronicle (Levin), 16 October 1946, Page 7

GOVERNMENT S CHOICE OF WAR MEMORIAL

-Press Association

COMMUNITY CENTRE SCHEMES FAVOURED

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Oct. 15. The Community Centre is considered by the Government to be an ideal form of war memorial, according to^a statement made by the Priine Minister; Mr. Eraser. However, he empliasiseq that while the Government indicated its own preference for living memorials, the decision as to what type of memorial waa to be adopted was purely a matter for the people of the district concerned. Where the memorials were to take the form of buildings or otherwise require hiaterials or labour which today were pre-empted for the national need for housing construction, work on them could not begin for at least two or tli-ree years. Mr. Eraser said that could be turned to ultimate advantage, however, since it gave a period for the raising of funds and for planning to avoid the possibility of costly mistakes. Mr. Eraser said that some timc a'go he had indicated that the Government policy regarding memorials would be announced by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Parry, at a conference of local authorities and other interested bodies. It had been impracticable for Mr. Parry to liold that conference but within the next few days he would send a letter to the heads of tliese authorities, giving details of the Government decision. Next session empowering legislation would be brought down giving local authorities and public bodies power to erect or to contribute to tlie erection of war memorials. While certain types of memorials would qualify for a Government subsidy, after long and careful consideration the Government had come to the conelusion that the type of memorial which could most justiliably be subsidised out of the national funds, was oue which, while erected in menrory of tliose who had given their lives, would be somethihg vital. Tlie Government felt that type of memorial which best embodied this ideal, was a Community Centre wliere the people could gather for social and educational purposes. As far as the> expenditure of Government moneys was concerned, the decision had been to subsidise the memorials which gave service to the living while being a reminder of the debt owed to those who gave their lives for our frcedom. War memorials proposed to be established by special sections of the community would not come within the range of the Government 's plan, these including educational and other cultural institutions, societies, clubs, business and manufacturing iirnis, and sporting organisations. Advice and help in designing and planning Community Centres, particularly in rural and smaller urban districts, would be' given by the Government to those needing it. Maori memorials would be dealt with separately by the appropriate Maori authorities but not local bodies. The meeting house and its marae were the true Community Centre of the Maori peppje.^nd therg w;e^evno.tabl^1 ^xai^ples in varioub parts of the bominion which were a%' iqspiration: