MEMORIAL HALL

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 100, 29 April 1937, Page 7

MEMORIAL HALL

ASSOCIATION'S AIM

PIONEERS OF NEW ZEALAND

The aim of the ~Ne\v Zealanders' Association to erect a Pioneers' Memorial Hall as a rallying point for New Zealanders was stressed at the annual meeting of the association last evening, when the report of the executive (already published) was adopted. The view was expressed that the time was opportune for a membership drive, and a special effort to raise funds for building. Mr. Charles Mclntyre presided over an attendance of about 75 members. Moving the adoption of the annual report and balance-sheet, he said that it was time New Zealanders took more interest in their own country. The association wanted only 250,000 bricks to build a Pioneers' Memorial Hall, and if every New Zealand-born person would become a member of the association the hall could be built. The association had several schemes but the building of the hall was the most democratic scheme that could be imagined. Anyone could subscribe to it and have an interest in it. He suggested a novel form of art union to raise funds. His idea was that they should sell chocolate bricks each having a number in it, and some of those numbers would win prizes. The new committee would have to attend to the work ahead, but he believed the building of the memorial hall would go ahead and be a credit to the city. When the hall was built it would make provision for all classes of citizens and visitors, and would also be a memorial to those who pioneered the country. The building fund was not very , strong, but they had some donations in hand, including one from Scotland and one from England. The report was adopted. Officers were elected for the ensuing year as follows: —Patron, the Rt. Hon. Sir Michael Myers, P.C., K.C.M.G.; president, Mr. ,C. Mclntyre; vice-presi-dents, Mr. T. Cl A. Hislop, Sir Donald McGavin, the Hon. H. G. R. Mason, the Rev. N. F. Robertshaw, Professor F. P. i Wilson, Mr. J. A. Lee, and Mr. Byron Brown; secretary, Mr. Stopforth; treasurer, Mr. A. Bell; hon. auditor, Mr. Campbell McAlister; committee, Mesdames E. Mclntyre, J. Burnett, W. Elliott, C. L. Landon, M. J. Bentley, H. Peach, Misses P. M. Houghton, S. J. Shearer, Messrs. E. S. Williams, H. Peach, A. E. Gill, C. Tandy, D. S. Rust, R. Johns, D. Griffin, F. H. C. Smith, E. C. Hotter, J. Walsh, C. Pearce, and A. Bond. It was agreed that a cable should be sent to their Majesties the King and Queen congratulating them on their Coronation. It was also decided that the executive should consider the formation of an overseas reception committee to meet and assist visitors to New Zealand. ,