THE CENTENNIAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 127, 25 November 1938, Page 16

THE CENTENNIAL

EASTBOURNE PROJECT

A MEMORIAL PARK

Mr. E. W. Wise, Mayor of Eastbourne, reported to his council last evening that he had/placed before the centennial zone A committee the Eastbourne Borough's proposal for a park on the waterfront as a Centennial memorial. The committee had, without comment, forwarded the proposal on to the provincial committee, which would decide whether to recommend, the project for a Government subisidy. ' , X ■ , Other^district projects which had been before the committee were a baths scheme for Johnsonville and a park for Lower Hutt. The Petone proposal, which, it was hoped, would be a semi-national project, was for an early settlers' memorial on the waterfront.

The council decided to supply to the Ratepayers' Association, in response to its request, a copy of the plan of the proposed park. Councillor V. P. Haughton, who drew the plans for the proposal, said he was in favour of giving ratepayers all the information possible and suggested procuring a lantern slide of the plan for exhibition. Ratepayers, he said, had got a wrong impression of what was proposed. The project was not as elaborate as some people thought, proposals for tennis courts, bowling greens, etc., having been cut out.

Later in the evening Councillor M. Magill questioned whether the proposed park was the best form of memorial. In her opinion, the council had come to too hurried a decision. She suggested a municipal block, including a hall, library, Plunket rooms, etc., as an alternative. A hall and a cabaret would be an excellent investment for a borough like Eastbourne. The hall which had been burnt down had met a great need, and the need was now still greater.

The Mayor said that such a scheme would be too costly to undertake as a voluntary effort; it would need a loan, and a loan would not carry a subsidy. Personally, he did not think very much would be forthcoming by way of subsidy. The amount for the whole Dominion was only £150,000, and if each local body was to get a share, individual amounts would be small. Councillor Magill's scheme was excellent, and sooner or later would have to be tackled, but he considered it too large to offer for subsidy. Councillors S. G. Shearer, D. Bowie, A. H. Macandrew, and V. P. Haughton all agreed that Councillor Magill's proposal would be a valuable asset to the borough, but disagreed with it for a Centennial memorial. Councillor Houghton said that while the library portion might carry a subsidy it was doubtful if the Government would grant a subsidy on other items. Councillor Magill withdrew her suggestion and agx-eed'to join other councillors in wholehearted support of the park proposal.