WAR MEMORIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 March 1922, Page 4

WAR MEMORIAL.

POSITION IN NEW PLYMOUTH. THE CENOTAPH SCHEME. A public meeting is to he held on Thursday, April 6, to discuss the question of a war memorial scheme for New Plymouth. This decision was the result of a deputation which waited on the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson) yesterday morning to ascertain the present position of the memorial movement. It will bo recalled that the previous proposal brought forward last September was for a memorial park on the land opposite the railway station, but this was held up, as some of the sections could not be secured foi* the purpose. Yesterday’s deputation was the outcome of a discussion at a recent meeting of the Pukekura Park Board, when it was suggested that the memorial should consist of gates to Pukekura Park and a cenotaph to be erected in a central position, the corner of St. Aubyn and Egmont Streets being mentioned as a probable site. The personnel of the deputation was as follows: — Messrs. C. E. Bellringer, R. C. Hughes and W. C. Weston (representing Pukekura Park Board), A M. Mac Diarmid and G. E. Roper (Returned Soldiers’ Association), and A. L. Humphries, J. McLeod and F. J. Hill (New Plymouth Sports Ground Committee). Mr. Bellringer explained that the deputation was not there to advocate any particular scheme, but to inquire the position in regard to a war memorial. It appeared that the decision of the Borough Council and the position regarding the Harbor Board sections made it impossible to have the park scheme carried out.

The Mayor outlined the steps that had been previously taken, and referred to a desire which he had had to see carried out- if possible the wishes of the two gentlemen who had preceded him as Mayor since the conclusion of the war. He was very pleased that a further move had been made, and suggested, as he thought was the wish of the deputation, that another p.ublic meeting should be called. The matter had not been allowed to lapse, though it had had to stand over for a time.

Mr. Bellringer said that the proper course would be to have a further public meeting to discuss what should be done. So far as the executive work Was concerned he thought it would be possible to form a strong committee of men who would be prepared to put the scheme through, not as a burden, but jas a joyful task in recognition of what had been done by the fallen men. The deputation felt that the time hod come when something definite sb.-nil-i be decided on and a definite appeal made.

There ensued an informal discussion upon the method of deciding the form of the memorial and of obtaining the funds.

The Mayor expressed the opinion that it would be necessary to make a can ; vass. An appeal had been made through the courtesy of the newspapers and 'he had received one cheque for one guinea and two promises.

Mr. McLeod remarked that the reason for this was no doubt that it had become obvious that the scheme the public meeting had had in view would not go through.

The Mayor added that he was not suggesting that this indicated that the memorial scheme was going to be a failure. He was satisfied that if they went the right, way about it they could obtain sufficient money to erect a very substantial memorial.

No attempt was made to have all present committed to a form for the memorial, but the remarks passed seemed to indicate a- possibility of a cenotaph being that likely to be acceptable. The corner of Egmont and St. Aubyn Streets was mentioned as a suitable site, as the street could be widened by taking in a part of the borough sections, and traffic could pass on either side of the cenotaph. It was suggested that Anzac Day would be a suitable occasion for launching the appeal for subscriptions.