WAR MEMORIAL SITE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1922, Page 4

WAR MEMORIAL SITE.

NEW PLYMOUTH’S SCHEME. A FURTHER MOVE. The position regarding the site for the proposed war memorial in New Plymouth, over which there was somewhat of a deadlock, has been cleared considerably during the past day or two, and there is now every prospect of the site question being definitely 'settled soon, a matter that is essential before an appeal can be made to the public for funds. On Wednesday afternoon a meeting of the War Memorial Committee was held at the Soldiers’ Club to consider the offer of the Borough Council of two sites. Mr- C. H. Burgess presided, and there was a good attendance of members, The sites offered for the memorial were at the corner of St Aubyn and Egmont Streets, or at the corner of St Aubyn and Queen Streets, the latter contingent on the council beipg able to secure the sections ibelonging to the Harbour Board by means of exchange or otherwise. After discussion a resolution was adopted accepting the Queen Street site, providing the Borough Council was able to secure the Harbour Board sections, in connection with which no difficulty is expected. Assuming that this- is accomplished, Queen Street will be widened at that point by absorbing into the roadway a portion of the corner section, and the war memorial will stand in the centre of the street. Queen Street at this point is already much wider' than other streets and the plan provides for widening it considerably. A vote of thanks to the Mayor end Council was passed for the action taken in the matter.

Accordingly the Mayor waited on the Harbour Board at its meeting yesterday, and after explaining the proposals, asked whether the board would be prepared to negotiate with the Borough Council for the sale or exchange of the four Harbour Board sections at the corner of St Aubyn and Queen Streets. He stated that the sites would, ibe utilised for a Municipal Hall and park and would never be used for business premises. Members of the board expressed the opinion that the proposed site was a very suitable one for the purpose, and the idea, if‘carried out, would considerably improve the approach to the town. A resolution passed previously that the board was prepared to consider an exchange was affirmed, and a committee consisting of the chairman (Mr. C. E. Bellringer) and Messrs. J. S. Connett, Newton King and C. A. Wilkinson was set up to confer with the Borough Council on the basis of exchange and report to the board.