"TOO ELABORATE"

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 12, 14 July 1939, Page 6

"TOO ELABORATE"

CENTENNIAL MEMORIALS

REDUCTION IN VALUE URGED

(Special to the "Evening Post.")

PALMERSTON N., This Day,

The opinion that in view of the country's finances at the present time too much money was being spent on various Centennial memorials throughout .New Zealand was expressed by Mr. K. A. Henderson, a Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce representative, at yesterday's meeting, of Zone D committee, which embraces the Palmerston North, Foxton, and Shannon areas.

"I know I should have mentioned the matter before this," said "Mr. Henderson, "but I was staggered when I heard that Palmerston North proposed to spend £4000 on a memorial. That has, now been reduced to £3000, but in general the various memorials are far too elaborate. I will move that th? National Council be asked to reduce the memorials in value, and that consideration of the subsidies be postponed by the Government until there are sufficient funds available. That will give the Government time to frame its budget in that connection."

Mr. Henderson thought memorials costing £200 or £300 were ample.

Mr. M. E. Perreau, Mayor'of Foxton, said he heartily agreed with Mr. Henderson, but he was afraid that the Government had already committed itself.

Mr. A. E. Mansf ord, Mayor of Palmerston North, pointed out that some districts had already raised large sums in order to qualify for the subsidy while a lot had been done on the memorials themselves. His view was that it all depended on the type of memorial to be set up. If it was to be a thing of usefulness, then a large expenditure might be all right. He had never had much time for spending money"in ways that were not useful. '■ In the past a lot of money had been spent on memorials that were not useful. Mr. Henderson: We must cut our cloth according to our means. We are only a million v and a half people. Mr. Mansf ord pointed out that Palmerston North's expenditure of £3000 was spread over three years. Further, it would not look well for Palmerston North, a town that was prosperous,, tc spend only a few hundreds, while other towns of similar; size intended spending thousands; , Mr. Henderson: The whole of New Zealand, should be reduced in propor- | tion. ■"■:' "■:'■'•'■: ■■"- . :'■■■ .' ■ ' ■;.. ■■..•'. ; ■ i Mr. Mansf ord stated that a contract | had already been let for £10,000 in I Wellington. ' , . ' ! The motion was carried and will be i | sent on to the National Council i through the Wellington Provincial ! Council. ; ...■'-;■.-.'• '