MEMORIAL TO TWO FORMER PARLIAMENTARIANS

Chronicle (Levin), 29 July 1947, Page 7

MEMORIAL TO TWO FORMER PARLIAMENTARIANS

-Press Association

By Tele -

AUCKLAND, July 28. Plans for the renovation of the Mata kohe cemetery grounds will be discuss ed at Matakohe on Saturday at a eon ference between the cemetery coinmitete, the Under-Socrctary of Interna Aft'airs, M r. J. W. Heenan, and Mr. H. L. Massey, of Auckland, architecl for the proposed interdenoniinationa> church to be built there to the memorv of Mr. J. G. Coates and Mr. 8. W. Gmith, M.P. 'This was announced at a public meeting held at hlatakohe when the residents were asked their opinion on the form the renovated cemetery should take. "We would like to see a church built but the housing shortage is an o bstacle, " said the secretary of the cemetery committee, Mr. J. Bterling. " Contrary to some rumours, the conmiittce is not pressing, for that reason, for its construction. The Government has given us to uuderstand tliat wlien tlie church is built the present unseemly surroundings would be quite out ot keeping. It will undertake the renovations and ^ve will have to keep the grpund in order. " Mr. Hterling said the Government favoured the laivn type of cemetery but the choice was left to the Matakohe residents. Questioned about the use to which the present cliurch would be put "vvhen the mcniorial church was bui-lt, the chair nian, Mr. W. Ball, said this would be deeided by the people of Matakohe. Oil'ers had alreadv been received fo. it for use as a church and he ivould not like to see it put to any other purpose. Funds received from its sale couio assist in furnishing the new church. A^fter a lengthy diseussion the meei ing recommended, with a number of dissentients, that the cemetery committee should convert the churchyard to a lawn type cemetery and that the present headstone should not be discardea.