REEFTON PROPOSALS FOR MEMORIAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 October 1946, Page 9

REEFTON PROPOSALS FOR MEMORIAL

COMMITTEE ELECTED AT" MEETING (C.C.) . REEFTON. Ort. 18. At a public meeting last evening at Reef ton, a committee was elected to consider suggestions put forward by citizens for a suitable war memorial for Reefton, and to obtain information from the Department of Internal Affairs concerning the type of project most favoured by the Government,. and the subsidy which might be available. The chairman of the Inangahua County Council (Cr. J. J. Coghlan) presided. The chairman explained that the meeting had been called to allow citizens to express their views on a war memorial and to consider plans and ideas for' building a memorial that would be of use to the district. The Government favoured living memorials of 1 a nature that would serve the needs of the community. A subsidy would be paid by the Government on memorials which would be of good service to the community. Help in designing and planning memorials was also offered by the Government. Scholarship, Park, or Clock. Mr. James Patterson made three suggestions: A scholarship for either primary or secondary school pupils in the Inangahua district; the planning of a park on Reservoir Hill, Reefton, or a clock'tower and clock in Reefton. Mr. J. Latham said that a town hall or suitable building was badly needed in Reefton for the holding of concerts and other cultural entertainments and he suggested that such a building be considered. Cr. C. Coxall, as representative ol the Reefton Fire Brigade and as a county member, said the Fire Brigade had discussed the matter, and while it would give full support to any project selected as a memorial, the firemen considered that the building of an up-to-date fire station would make a fitting and useful memorial. He pointed out that the brigade had for 78 years carried on a 24-hour service every day in the year, and he thought this was worthy of notice. Cr. F. W. Archer said that any memorial should give special consideration to the Returned Services’ Association, and should, he felt, provide a place that was set apart for the use of all members of the services. Hospital Gates. Mr. A. G. Wells said that the community might consider the building of suitable entrance gates to the new Reefton hospital. Mr. J. Crossman said he considered it was the duty of the community to provide both a new fire station ana suitable entrance gates to the proposed new hospital. He considered that a community centre would be a good war memorial. Mr. W. G. Porter, for the Reefton R.S.A., said that his association favoured the idea of a community centre. The association did not wish to ask citizens for a special part of the centre for the use of the association. but if the community desired such an amenity he knew that members would be grateful, and that it would be of benefit to the association. ~ x Mr. J. K. Patterson, as president of the Inangahua District Progress League, said that the town lacked a hall suitable for concerts, and it was felt that the community centre would be the best type of memorial. He suggested the appointment of a committee to prepare a report for a further public meeting. This was agreed to on the motion of Mr. James Patterson and Mr. C. Coxall. The committee appointed was Messrs. J. J. Coghlan, C. Coxall, W. G. Porter, F. W. Archer, J. Latham, C. A. Belcher, Mesdames AV. G. Porter and C. Coxall.