PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 May 1919, Page 6

PEACE CELEBRATIONS.

EGMONT COUNTY'S CONTRIBUTION: Some discussion took place at the last meeting of the Egmont County Council in connection with the peace celebrations. The chairman (Cr. W. R. Wright) stated that the chairman of the Opunake Town Board suggested that the Town Koard should coutribute iio and the County Council £25. This, with the Uovernment subsidy, would give them £IOO which would permit of a fireworks display. Personally he was opposed to spending the money in fireworks, but the Government appeared to wish it.

Cr. Green said that Rahptu would not join in with Opunake celebrations as fiahotu had made preparations for a great gathering before Opunake considered the question. He wanted to be clear as to whether the money must be expended in fireworks, or wtiether it could be used for a soldiers' club. He would support a contribution being made if the money could be put to a good purpose, but if they wanted to use it for fireworks or otherwise acting the fool he thought they should subscribe the money themselves. Cr. O'Brien thought the children would appreciate the fireworks. Cr. Sinclair said that Pihama, Te Kiri and Awatuna were joining with Opunake, and he thought they might vote £25 to those celebrations, and, say, £lO to Rahotu. Cr. Green said that he would be opposed to taking it. Rahotu intended devoting the proceeds of its gathering to a peace memorial iu the shape of a soldiers' club, and if they accepted this £lO might be debarred from doing 80. - It was resolved to vote the £25, Cr. Green protesting as he considered it unfair to the ratepayers of Rahotu district. Cr. Harvey considered the expenditure justified on account of the children. Members were oi opinion that Rahotu should also be given its share, and Cr. Green moved that Rahotu's share be handed over, to the School Committee. The chairman suggested that the fireworks could be purchased wholesale and Rahotu given its share. Cr. Harvey: What about Pungarehu? Cr* Green moved that the Council vote £25 to the Rahotu Patriotic Committee for a soldiers' club at Rahotu. The chairman questioned if the Council had the power. Cr. O'Brien said that the soldiers were entitled to every consideration. The Council should give Rahotu the late Koad Board offices for a soldiers' club. Cr. Harvey did not consider there was any need for a soldiers' club in Rahotu. Most of the returned soldiers were getting married and the place would develop into a gambling den. Cr. Green said that Cr. Harvey had never been to a patriotic meeting, and so did not know the need. Cr. Hokien considered the remarks very unfair. Eltham had a soldiers' club run on good lines. He was pleased to see Rahotu considering the matter. After further discussion a committee consisting of the chairman, Crs. Coffin and Green was set up to allocate the fireworks.