RANGIORA WAR MEMORIAL

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27985, 4 June 1956, Page 16

RANGIORA WAR MEMORIAL

BUILDING OPENED BY MR W. H. GILLESPIE

The Rangiora War Memorial building, in memory of those who served in World War 11, was officially opened yesterday afternoon. Although the weather was dull and cold, there was a large attendance. The cost of the building, with furnishings, was about £14,500. which was raised by a queen carnival and a duke contest, assisted by the Plunket Society, with a £ for £ Government subsidy. The foundation stone was laid on November 14, The chairman of the War Memorial Committee, the Mayor of Rangiora (Mr C W. Tyler), traced the efforts of the district to raise the money for the building ,and he thanked all who had worked and contributed. The president of the Rangiora branch of the Returned Services’ Association (Mr J. W. MacLeod) said that the children of today were the citizens of tomorrow, and on them the responsibility would be placed of caring for the memorial. He hoped that those whose names were on the memorial plaque would never be forgotten. Mrs R. H. Glubb. president of the Rangiora Plunket Society, said that the accommodation provided in the building would be useful to those who engaged in welfare work in Rangiora and the district. On behalf of the Kowai. Ashley. Eyre and Rangiora counties, Mr A. A. Mackintosh, chairman of the Ashlev County Council, said that the memorial building would be a great asset to town and country. The residents of the counties, who had supported the efforts to establish the memorial, all realised the great debt they owed to those whose names were commemorated. In declaring the building open, Mr W. H. Gillespie, M.P., said that Rangiora now had two war memorials, and he was certain that the people of the district would never forget the names of those who served in the two world wars. The war memorial building was a fitting one. It was a living memorial, and in his opinion Rangiora and district were well equipped for whatever type of ceremony they wished to hold.

Mr Gillespie said that, although the memorial had been erected by the present generation, it was the young people who would derive the greatest use from it. He hoped it would prove of value to Rangiora and district for many years to come. He then opened the door with a key presented to him by Mr P. J. McKie, on behalf of the contractors. Messrs Keir and McKie.

The unveiling of the memorial plaque containing the names of the fallen of World Wars I and 11. and of returned men from both wars was performed by Major-General Sir Howard Kippenberger, a former resident of Rangiora. In doing so, he said it was fitting that those names should be seen and honoured, and he hoped that all who used the building would remember them.

Others who assisted were the Rev W. G. M. Heerdegen (dedication of memorial building), the Rev. J. L. Wilson (dedication of plaque), the Rev. C. E. Dickens, the Rev. L. A. Day, and Senior Captain E. A. Smith.