CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 35, 11 February 1939, Page 8

CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL.

I attended the meeting called by the \Va ifakere Park advocates, but frankly was not impressed by the arguments put forward in its favour. The president of the Automobile Association was enthusiastic. However, motorists should endeavour to remember (as they often appear to forget) that there are other interests beside their own. The Centennial memorial should be something every citizen could take a pride and interest in, and a large majority of citizens do not posses* cars, and, further, would not be able to afford the expensive transport fares to the Waitakeres, consequently the park would be useless to them. Great stress was laid at the meeting on the tremendous attraction the park would be to tourists. I cannot emphasise too strongly that it is the citizens themselves first and last that should benefit by the proposed Centennial memorial. Xew Zealand is not primarily a tourist country, and I hope it never will be. The enthusiasm exhibited at the meeting concerning the great asset the park would be in fifty or sixty years' time and how much present-day citizens would be praised was amusing. What use is this to us? We want something we can use and enjoy ourselves. I really would like to know where the figure of £250,000 quoted as required by the art centre advocates was obtained. I have ascertained it was not from the art centre advocates. They would, of course, "cut their coat according to their cloth." It must be remembered also that the arts centre would be revenue producing from the day it was completed, which the Waitakere Park will never be. That two ex-Mayors (or ex-anybody else), favour the scheme carries no weight whatever. Citizens are quite able to judge these matters for themselves. The poor attendance at the meeting, and the lack of enthusiasm generally shown towards the proposal prove that the Waitakere Park scheme has not got the support of citizens, and the sooner this is realised the better it will be for the scheme that is ultimately chosen. FLORENCE QUILL.