A COMMUNITY CENTRE.

Evening Star, Issue 23113, 12 November 1938, Page 16

A COMMUNITY CENTRE.

Dunedin’s citizens recognise the desirability of having this province worthily represented at the Centennial Exhibition in Wellington in 1940. At the same time, it is felt that so important an anniversary in the Dominion’s history should not be allowed to pass without the establishment of a permanent symbol of the occasion in our midst. Some time ago a proposal was put forward for the erection of a women’s community building, which would include rest rooms for peo))I»

from town and country and afford accommodation for the work of various women’s organisations. This was the germ from which a larger idea has been developed. It is now suggested that the memorial should take the form of a building to serve numerous civic activities and needs of all sections of the community. The .'esthetic side of the project, if adopted, would not be overlooked. Care would bo given to the design of the building from the architectural point of view, so that it should bo in keeping with the finest examples of architecture in our midst, and the beauty of the setting would bo enhanced by a, garden plot or plots. The matter is to come before the Otago Centennial Council on Monday, when, no doubt, full consideration will bo given to the merits of the plan, which undoubtedly has attractive points. The site could hardly bo better. It is the area, containing about half an acre, on which the Garrison Hall and the building formerly used by the ‘ Otago Daily Times ’ stand, and as this land belongs to the Government the chances of obtaining it for the purpose mentioned should be good.

The suggestion is that the building should include a conference hall, a smaller hall for meetings, committee rooms, reading, -writing, and waiting rooms, and other accessories suitable for a community enterprise such as this. It is understood that the various women’s organisations in the city are in sympathy with the proposal, considering that it will in no way hamper their original scheme, but on the contrary strengthen it, for it will moan an extended field of service. The aspect of cost governs the matter, but an event of such historic significance as New Zealand’s centenary is worthy of a special effort. One strong point in favour of this particular plan is that it would remove the serious dangers to traffic occasioned by the sharp turn from Dowling street into Burlington street and vice versa. No doubt the Centennial Council will give the scheme careful consideration. There may be others of equal value put before that body from -which a choice could lie made. What should move the people of this city to activity is the suggestion that to mark a great event some tangible and permanent memorial combining beauty with utility should be constructed. Historically the spot suggested is particularly suitable, and a memorial placed on it would be a tribute to the pioneers of the province to whom we owe so much. The community centre movement is being taken up strongly in Britain and the United States, and already the British Government has granted more than £2,000,000 in assistance to these projects. So far as the financial aspect is concerned, there should not be much difficulty in raising the money for so desirable a purpose as that embodied in the scheme that is to be put before the Centennial Council.