GREEN POINT MEMORIAL

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXIV, Issue 6580, 27 October 1939, Page 2

GREEN POINT MEMORIAL

THE QUESTION OP UPKEEP

At Wednesday's meeting of the Akaroa Borough Council the question of improving the grounds at the Green Point Memorial and the future upkeep

were discussed at length. Opinion was divided on the subject of the Council's

payment for upkeep, but the majority favoured the Council paying a yearly

quota towards the upkeep and accepting the responsibility. Finally it was dedded that the Department be asked to bear the cost of all the renovations to the Grounds and Monument and thi Council offer £10 a year towards

the upkeep of the Grounds, the total

upkeep being reckoned at £25 a ye:tr. The Akaroa County Council declined

to bear any paii of the upkeep as they considered the Government should

coir the total cost,

The Akaroa County Council wrote in regard to the upkeep of the Green Point Monument that the Council considered '.lie Government should bear the full cost as they had done of the Waitangi Monument.

The chairman said he regretted that the Council had taken up this attitude as he thought the local people should help towards the upkeep of the Monument.

In answer to Councillor Reid the chairman said that Lord Bledisloe had put the Waitangi Memorial into order and had spent a great deal t of money there before the Government took over.

The chairman said the difficulty was to draw up the plan required by the Department.

The matter of sending the gardener and assistants to keep the Reserve in order was discussed. The truck would have to be used. The time going there and back would be the biggest item.

Councillor Reid said it was worth £10 to the Borough to keep the Monument in order, but he would not like to see more spent on the yearly upkeep.

Councillor Williams' said that if the Government gave £10 he did not think the Borough should begrudge the balance.

Councillor Reid moved the Department be written to and informed that the cost of upkeep of the Green Point Memorial would be £25 a year and the Council would give £10 a year towards this amount once the grounds were put in order; seconded by Councillor Williams.

Councillor Whelch opposed the motion as the Monument was outside the Borough and the Council should not spend the ratepayers money there.

Councillor McNabb moved as an amendment that as the Monument was not within the territory of the Borough the Borough was not disposed to undertake the control.

The chairman said there was no question of iegality once the property was vested in the Borough.

Councillor Whelch seconded amendment.

Councillor Williams said he would like to see this matter discussed at a further meeting. He would like to move a further amendment that the matter be held over till next meeting.

Councillor McNabb's amendment was put and lost on the chairman's vote.

Councillor Shuttleworth moved that the Department be written to and offered a yearly grant of £5 towards the maintenance of the Monument, the Borough to assume control after the Grounds had been put in order; seconded by Councillor McNabb.

Councillor Petrie said that all would prefer to see the Government take control and pay everything. If that amendment were carried he did not think there was any likelihood of the work at the Monument being carried out.