Otaki Peace Memorial.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 January 1920, Page 4

Otaki Peace Memorial.

« I ABANDONED OWiiSG TO POOIS t SUPi J Oia\ • At meeting ol the Otuki -Peui c Memorial Committee, .Mr Ji. Freeman reported that ;lie hud mot with a very* poor response in canvassing. In coses he met with flat refusals. Many old settlers, in a good financial position, who had*made all their money in •the place, hud tailed to give tho scheme any support. Some said they considered the ratepayers should erect ■ municipal buildings, another prominent citizen said he would' prefer to .see drainage, water or eleptric lighting sthenics adopted in preference to •municipal buildings, and other excuses were made. Mr T. 13. Bax reported that he had mot with a little better success than Mr I'Yc imui, but still lie had been '.li.sc<wraged by tho lack ol public support of tho project. Some of the busi- ! nes.s people had responded Jiborally, •and lie read: the amounts 'promised jj him, including several generous gilts I! of JLIOO and £50 each. Quite a large il number of those in iair ourcn instances, J. however, refused to give a penny, and he had met with -so many refusals that he had become disgusted-. It seemed to him that many people objected to 'using the soldiers' name to raise money for the memorial. -Mr Bax added that he liad. been connected with a. good many public projects, but had never mot with such discouiagement as in this proposal. Several others reported similar e.\periences, and' it was then resolved, on the motion of .\lr Venn, second •' by the ltev. Pet.rie, "That, in view of tho poor response-met with by the canvassers, thjs <_ - o ill 111 i'l i•' with i(V gret rocommeuil ihe public that the proposed peace memorial scheme be abandoned.'

Tlir> si'orei-ary »ui.s asked to prepare an account of the expenses incurred, wiiioil would have- to ho shale'. I l)y till', members <j! -committee.