WAR MEMORIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1921, Page 4

WAR MEMORIAL.

NEW PLYMOUTH SCHEME. FURTHER STEP TAKEN. THE PARK PROPOSAL. At a meeting o-f the New Plymoutl War Memorial Committee last night, jl was decided to adopt the suggestion tc acquire the land opposite the railway station to be preserved as an opei space in which some form of memoria. will be erected. The decision is sub ject to confirmation by a further publii meeting, and is also dependent on th< question of whether the proposed sit< can be secured. A portion of it is bor ough reserve, and other sections wil) have to be acquired.

The meeting, which was presided over by the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), had been called with a view to considering any suggestions arising from the Mayor’s letter to the public, as published recently. There were also present: Mesdaanes C. H. Burgess, E. A. Walker, and C. H. Weston, Rev. Harvie Dr. Home, and Messrs. C. H. Burgess W. H. Skinner, W. C. Weston, C. E. Bellringer, T. C. List, W. J. Penn. Apologies were received from Archdeacon Evans, Rev. Elliott, and Mr. A. M. MacDiainid. It was decided that the names of Messrs. J. McLeod and W. J. Chaney be added to the committee. In opening proceedings the Mayor mentioned that included in suggested sites for the memorial were Pukekura Park and Western Park. Others who supported utilising the site trader discussion had put forward proposals to build a town hall or theatre, in which cculd be placed some memorial roll or tablet. Of the writers who favored Pukekura Park, one proposed the erection of memorial entrance gates there, and another idea mooted was the building of a kiosk. » NO BETTER SCHEME. “Frankly speaking,” said Mr. Wilson, “I am disappointed with the suggestions. There have been none of more practical value than the proposal to use the site opposite the railway station, if possible, as a rest place or open space. I prefer this idea, as it is obvious a park cannot be constructed there. We might use it as an open space, like the triangle in Dunedin, or a miniature Albert Park.” Continuing. Mr. Wilson said there had been another proposal to place a memorial on the southern terrace in the park. He pointed out that if the site opposite the railway station was adopted, the committee would have to secure the con sent of the Borough Council to use the site for the purpose, and. as part of the land in this locality was Harbor Board property, the transfer of th.ese sections would be necessary in order to provide a suitable area. Mr. Skinner raised a point as to whether the Borough Council would have power to give up their reserves, and expressed the opinion that a validating Act of Parliament would be necessary. Mr. Burgess said that whether or not the borough possessed this power, it was never intended that the sections should be built on except, perhaps, for a town hall. A list of the suggestions received included proposals for a Returned Soldiers’ Club, a hostel, and for the erection of a tower on Maryland Hill. Five favored building a town hall, others supported the committee’s proposal, and one writer suggested the erection of a maternity home. FORM OF MEMORIAL. Mr. Skinner suggested that at first the committee should define whether the memorial was to be of a utilitarian nature, or simply a memorial. That would narrow the ground considerably. In all the cases of memorials at Home of which he had heard, they were purely for commemoration purposes. He moved that in New Plymouth, it should be of purely a memorial nature, as distinct from a utility one. The motion was seconded by the Mayor, who did not favor using the memorial to secure anything which should be provided by the public in any case. After a brief discussion the meeting agreed to the motion. Rev. Harvie moved that the site at the corner of St. Aubyn and Egmont Streets be adopted, and that steps be taken to secure the adjoining land. Speaking in support, he said that while each of the other proposals had something in its favor, he did not think any was as suitable as the one under review. The motion was seconded by Mr. Weston and carried after some discussion. The sub-committee set up - to go into the position as regards the site was as follows: Messrs. J. McLeod, W. J. Penn, T. C. List, and W. H. Skinner. It was suggested that the committee should invite the public to submit sketches of proposed forms of memorial to be erected.