SWIMMING POOL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 220, 17 September 1938, Page 20

SWIMMING POOL.

CENTENARY PROJECT. CHRISTCHURCH MEMORIAL. APPROVAL OF THE MINISTER. (By Toloprraph.—Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. Those whose arduous duty it is to make the final decisTon regarding the form the Canterbury centenary memorial should take have yet another proposal before them now. This is a suggestion that the memorial should bo a modern municipal swimming pool, and those supporting it received some encouragement in I ho form of a letter received by the Mayor. Mr. R. M. Macfarlane, from the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. K. Parry. "With regard to your query as to whether a modern municipal swimming pool would be considered a suitable form of memorial, I may say that such a project falls within the general view of the Government that those types of memorials are preferable which embody some form of community service," said the Minister. •

"The only reservation which I would make in this connection is that the centennial should not be seized as an occasion to carry out ordinary public works at the expense of centennial funds." 11l answer to an inquiry as to whether the museum project would be eligible for subsidy, the Minister said that he had not indicated that such projects would be barred from subsidy. He emphasised that only £1 ">O,OOO would bo available for distribution throughout New Zealand for both c-'lebrations and memorials. "Therefore any single project involving a very large expenditure might prejudice other local memorials." This point had been made in correspondence with the Auckland Centennial Committee some months ago, and at that time, added the Minister, he had in mind early proposals in Christchurch which visualised a f 100.000 scheme.

"I-iator reports, however, indicate that tlie total sinn aimed at by yo\i is something in the neighbourhood of £30,000, and, provided the scheme is definitely recommended by the Provincial Centennial Council, and i/% approved by the National Centennial Council, it will be eligible for subsidy, subject, however, to the full sun of £150.000 not having been exhausted by the time the moneys on which subsidies have been claimed have been raised.

"I take this opportunity of expressing my pleasure that centennial matters generally are arousing such interest in Canterbury. Recent newspaper reports make very heartening reading. I wish you everv success, and wish to congratulate you" on the interest you have personally displayed." The swimming pool proposal was briefly discussed by the baths and enter- : tainment committee of the City Council, k but it is understood that no action was ; taken in the meantime.