WAR MEMORIAL HALL

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 29, 30 July 1952, Page 6

WAR MEMORIAL HALL

A HALL BY CHRISTMAS Last Thursday a meeting was held :n Rickit's Hall to take a step further towards the establishment of a Memorial Hall for Taupo, The meet•ing had been convened by Col. J. D. Swan on behalf of the Returned Services Association, and was constituted, by invited two representarives from each organisation in tlie town to attend. A roll call showed that the invitation had been accepted by the following: — Bowling Club, Cricket Club, Girl Guides, Gymkhana Club, Fire Brigade, Labour Party, Xational Party, Ratepayers' Association. Roman Catholic Church, >St. J ohn Ambulance Association, ■ Businessmen's Association, Community Arts Service, Church of England, Golf Club, Home and School Association, Horticultural Society, Motor Boat Club, R.S.A., Rod and Gun | Club, Town Board, St. John Brigade, School Committee, and Women's Jnstitute. '

• On the motion of the convener Mr R. H. Ward was elected to the ehair. In his opening remarks the chairman stated that this was the ■most representative meeting of organisations in Taupo that he could recall, showing the keen interest in the objective discussed last month, when it was decided to go ahead with the pro-ject of raising the funds necessary to proceed with the full acheihe envisaged by the R.S.A. At the meetipg last month no steps had been taken to form an organisation to raise these funds and the present meeting was called for this purpose. €okmel Swan then outlined the situation as it stood to-day, which was fundamentally as reported in the' aecount of the bublic meeting reported in the TIMES of June 11th. Certain modifications had been made to thq? original plans, largely owing* to the; fact that the hall was now to be built on a flat instead of a sloping section. This should bring the eost down to £14,000, but this was fetill £5,000 over *the assets which the Town Board had in hand plus the subsidy of £1 for £1 from the Government, which together would total no more than £9,000. It would be necessary therefore to raise £2,500, which if obtained before the end of June next year would also be eligible for subsidy to complete the amount required. When the hall was completed interior furnishings would be required, such as seating, stage lightmg, and curtains in the hall and also an electric stove for the kitchen together with crockery, cutlery, glassware and other utensils — these were important and the day was past in Taupo when these items could be borrowed all over the town. It was doubtful if money raised for fumishing and equipment of this iond would be eligible for the subsidy and therefore a further sum of £1,500 must be allowed for them. That meant that we would require a siw* of £4,000. Colonel ISwan considered that it w not impossible to raise this by Christmas. Rotorua was trying to raise £28,000 for their Memorial over the ho-liday period, and they were engaging- a . professional organiser for seyen weeks to do it. As pre-vi-ously pointed out the state of the loan market precluded the raising of funds by borrowing. It was hoped to raise quite a large sum by rneans of donations which were being acknowledged in the columns of the TIMES. As to the balance the speaker visualised the possibility of baving the main portion of the hall (erected by Christmas, staging plays, •dances^ balls etc. over the busy Christmas period in order to obtaip the main oortion of the sum required, "A Hall. by, Christmas" should foe our motto," he urged. In con•elusion Col. Swan said that if the •meeting* felt that this project should be proceeded with, they should form thernselves into a committee with power to add, . and elect an executive to proceed . with steps to raise the necessary funds, , Affer' discussion had taken place coneerning , the best mCans of forman organisation to . handle the

situation, (Mr L. E. Pearse moved that this meeting form itself into the Taupo War Memorial Hall Association with the object of raising the sum of £4,000 as originally planned, and that delegates' organisation represented at this meeting be appointed to represent them in the Association. Executive Elected. The following officers were appointed: — Chairman, Mr W. J .Stevens j who represented the National Party; deputy chairman, Miss A. Wehringo (Catholic Church); secretary, Mrs Terry Kent (Ratepayers, Association) ; joint treasurers, Mr E. Wright (Bank of New Zealand) and Mr Ben. Armstrong (Postmaster) ; organiser, Col. J. D. Swan (RJS.A.); committee, the above officers and one representative from each of the following organisations : — Business men's Association; Ratepayer's Association; Labour Party; Motor Boat Club; Gymkhana Club; and Women's Institute. In reply to a question by Mr J. Booth. the organiser (Colonel Swan), stated that buildingi could not be commenced until the amended plans had been passed by the government, and that he considered that it might be necessary to sit on the doorstep of the department concerned to ensure that this was done speedily. The Slogan " A Hall by Christmas" was adopted on the recommendation of the organiser.

The TIMES will be pleased to receive, and acknowledge in these columns, further donations to the Piund.

Net Proceeds Marionette Show (R.S.A.) 15 0 0 R. H. Ward, Taupo. 10 0 ( The McLean Family 10 0 0 Armstrong's Drapery •. § 0 0 S. E. Langstone, Takapuna Auckland, io d Mrs Sally Kent * 10 0 Total to date.— £4i 0 0

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