Wanted — £4000

Taupo Times, Volume I, Issue 30, 6 August 1952, Page 4

Wanted — £4000

AL.L concerned who have at heart the project of completing the War Memorial Hall and R.S;A. Clubrooms on the scale originally planned must have felt greatly encouraged by the excellent response of the various local institutions in sending delegates to the meeting held in Thursday, July 24th last, to conslder ways and means of furthering the objective. With the resources already in hand, the sum required to complete the building itself is £2500, raised by public efforts. This sum will earn an additional Government subsidy of £2500 on a £ for £ basis, thus proving a total of £5000. It is estimated, however that a further £1500 will be needed for furnishings and equipment. This sum does not carry a Government subsidy. It has therefore to be added to the £2500 to be raised by public effort. The actual target to be aimed at totals therefore, £4000. This sum by, goodwill and 'public spirit expressed in donations and receipts from various money-raising enterprises, mugt, in hort, come from the citizens themselves. The slogan for the campaign is "A Hall by Christmas." This does not imply that the total sum required must be in hand by that date. The organisers have until June next year to comply with the requirements for earning the Governftient Subsidy. What it does mean is that it is hoped to have tjie hall up by Christmas, any halance owing to be liquidated later. Quite frankly, we are much less doubtful about the possibility of raising £4000 within the space of time available, than about the certainty of getting the hall by Christmas. The slogan is inspiring enough to kindle zeal, enthusiasm and stimulate energetic acticn. But we are now in the mcnth of August, and most of us know from experience that with the turn of the year, the advent of Spring and the burgeoning of the flowers that bloom with a warming sun, Christmas has a disconcerting habit of accelerating its

arrival, catching frantic housewmes on the hop. ) With a realistic appreciation jpi the problems of building construiction and associated headaches |n Taupo, sueh as the supply of laboujr, materials, the vagaries of the weather, and so forth, we will be mosjt agreeably surprised if by some miryacle of zealous co-operation, fever-V ish energy, perserveranee and determ-j ination on the part of all concerned in the building operations, the slogan of the organisers is materialised.^ Those who have watched the erec~| tion of a house in Taupo will share > our doubts. Furthermore, as the } organisers are perfectly well awareA the amended plans and specifications \ have to be vetted by ministerial I • * \ authority before a start even can be \ made. This formality might con- \ ceivably be speeded up, as Colonel / Swan has suggested, by sitting on ' the doorstep of the appropriate department. But the bureacratic ma- ■ chine, like the mills of the Gods, grinds slowly, and while it grinds, ! the sands are running out. However, j the best of luck to the organisers. ( and strength to their arms. Let us get after the £4000 without further ( ado, and hope for the best about the \ building. i To judge by the plans outlined by the organiser (Colonel J. D. Swan), / and approved by the Executive, there shouid be little doubt about raising the sum required. It is even possible that the building might materialise by Christmas, if voluntary wor'kers contribute a quota of industry and energy, and the contractors, when ( signed up, tackle the job in the right spirit. * ! i ■