SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 4 December 1919, Page 3

SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL.

MONUMENT FAVOURED

In response to a further call for those interested in the above to attend a meet»?ng, fifty ladies and gentlemen jSfrerei present at the Lyric Theatre on evening, when the matter was fully discussed. fc,"" ' -^r as- Stewart, chairman of the Town fy■[_.'. Board, occupied the chair. He explained > .-• what had been done so far in regard to a -■ memorial, and stated that there was in hand, per lists made up, the sum of £150. : -A- good deal of discussion took place '•bver the style of a memorial—whether a . - park 'tis suitable, or whether a monument would be j^ore appropriate. The majority oV those present were in favour of a monument, and on a motion ,/- - ' being-put .to the effect that a monument , be erected, it was carried on a show of ' ! ' hands. \-:- /*\ The question of where the monument v should be erected caused a lotofdis- ~ ' cussion . Mr ; Aitkenhead was in favour of a monument being erected at the Springs Domain,, as the most suitable place, ■where it would be seen by a larger number of people than if it was put elsewhere. Mr Nicholls, in the course of a stirring speech, also favoured a monument being erected at the Springs grounds, where it would have a fitting setting. He deprecated any partisan feeling over the matter, and reminded his hearers that the soldiers who went west had come from throughout the district, and had stood Ehoulder to shoulder. Mrs Oxley favoured a drinking fountain and monument being erected ' near the Library site in Helenaville. It was proposed by the chairman, jseconded by Mr Aitkenhead, that a ■s monument be erected, and a committee of seven gentlemen and three ladies be set up to go into the cost of a monument. fi Mr Leonard moved as an amendment §£ that a monument be erected at the %_ * Springs. Mr McLeod, who seconded the %££ "Amendment, said there should be no talk p.-,}; of splitting up the district. He was of *£v ', opinion' that the Springs was the most suitable place for the monument. The </~ - district was quite able to raise the '- "v ,_ necessary money. , After ,mpre discussion it was agreed to withdraw the amendment, and change the motion in favour of.a monument, and as such it was carriedMr McLeod put a prapostion to the * effect that ballot papers should be issued and each subscriber, irrespective of the amount he or she subscribed, should have one vote as to where they wanted the monument erected. Mr Matheson favoured voting, but considered that each shilling given should entitle the pubscriber to a vote, instead of the one man, one vote idea proposed by Mr McLeod. He would move an amendment that a committee b© set up to go into the question of raising money, voting, site, etc. Mr W. Coutts, who seconded Mr Matheson's amendment, favoured selling ' ___, _ votes at, say, 2/6 each. R After further discussion for and against % r , both propositions, the amendment was "V f'- i put to the meeting, andSioston a show of '- " - hands. . On Mr McLeod's motion being put to the meeting, it was carried easily. The formation of a committee was ' then proceeded with, the following being appointed: ' . ladies of the Patriotic and Bed '. t£ Gross committees, and Messrs J. Sjiewapt, ' J. A. Wilson, A. J. Hill, R. tficholls, Jas •■ '■ , MpLeqd, W. Downer, T. D. Johnson, C. , S. West", F. W. Strange, W. Coutts, A. J. ,g'kelton, W- Allen, H. Aitkenhead, and A. Han sen. .'' Mr W. Jl. F- Raisher waa appointed ' -_ secretary and Mr Matheson treasurer. i """ rJt was decided that an account be opened in the Union B.ank. , f^ooks of subscription tickets are now available tq inen}beir.s of the committee frqra the secretary; Mr Raisherj.