Carnival To Finance War Memorial Hall

Chronicle (Levin), 31 August 1948, Page 3

Carnival To Finance War Memorial Hall

At a public meeting in the Renown Th^atre last Thursday evening, it was decided to hol'd a queen camival to raise funds for the proposed Shannon and District War Memorial Hall. The decision was arrived at following the presentation of a report by a sub-co'mmittee of the Memorial Hall Committee, set up to go into ways and means of financing tne project. The report was presented by the secretary of the committee, Mr. R. Hook, -and it recommended the holding of a carnival with two queens, town and country, to be held from October 5 to Ootober 25 (Labour Day) . In opening the discussion on the report, Mr. R. S. Downes asked if it would not.be possible tp raise the money by public subscription, as with carnivals it fell to the lot of a handful of people to raise the money. These people worked day and night and in many cases contributed more than their share of; money, whereas if each citizen guaranteed to subscribe a sum over a period of two years the money could be raised in a more fitting manner for such a sacred project as a war memorial. Mr. L. G. Sayer also stated that the subscription - scheme • ' Was : good idea, but many people' would' not commit themselves regarding donations because -they were uncertain what the future might hold for them. Therefore, he thought a carnival would be a better proposition. ' Mr. W. C. Higgie stated. that although he agreed with Mr. Downes, he was one of the collectors for the first voluntary subscription • scheme when the response was very poor indeed. In his opinion there was no other way of raising the money than by a carnival. Mr. C. G. Wishaft then moved that the sub-committee's report be adopted, .with any minor alterations which might be deemed necessary. The Mayor, Mr. D. A. Fitzgerald, who presided, then put the motion, which was carried. The chairmen for the two committees were then apponted, they being Mr. J. D. Campbell (country) and Mr. W. C. Higgie (town) . Before closing the meeting the Mayor moved a vote of thanks to Mrs. E. L. Hyde for the valuable assistance she had. given in providing the use of the Renown Theatre free of cost for this and all public meetings held in the past. The motion was carried by acclamation, as was a vote of thanks to the chairman and members of the War Memorial Hall Committee, moved by Mr. J. T. Bovis. —