WAR MEMORIAL

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 57, Issue 4001, 2 June 1948, Page 9

WAR MEMORIAL

MEETING IN COROMANDEL REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING A well-attended meeting, consisting of representatives of various organisations was held in the Oddfellows hall, Coromandel on Friday, May 21, when Mr H. V. Denize was elected to the chair. In opening the meeting Mr Denize said that the time had arrived when the people of Coromandel wished to consider the question of a war memorial and at the request of the Coromandel County Council the county clerk, Mr J. H. Lucas, had been asked to convene the meeting. He then called on Mr Lucas to give an outline of the position in regard to war memorials and the possibility of claiming the Government subsidy on money raised. Mr Lucas gave a detailed resume of what had transpired when a deputation of the R.S.A. had waited on the council at its February meeting. The R.S.A. had intimated that as the Government subsidy of £ for £ could only be lifted provided any war memorial buildings were vested in, or owned by, a local body, they were prepared to hand their funds amounting to approximately £l5OO over to the council —subject to the scheme or plan of the memorial being acceptable to the R.S.A. In consequence, to get a start made, Mi 1 Lucas had drawn a plan for a community centre. A copy of this plan was up on the wall and explained in detail. Questions were called for and a discussion took place. A resolution was carried to the effect that the meeting was of opinion that a war memorial should be established in Coromandel. A further resolution was carried: “ That this meeting of representative citizens consider the memorial should take the form of a community centre.” It was then resolved that a committee comprising of five representatives of the county council (including one each from Colville and Whangapoua); three representatives from the R.S.A.; two from the following organisations, Plunket Society, Colville-Coromandel Coast Progressive Association, W.S.R.S.A., Coromandel, Colville and Whangapoua • branches; Women’s Division Federated Farmers; Coromandel and Manaia branches Women’s Institute; Coromandel and Colville Federated Farmers; Chamber of Commerce; Coromandel Tennis Club; Coromandel Bowling Club; Coromandel Rugby Union; Masonic Lodge; Coromandel Fire Brigade; Oddfellows’ Lodge; Band; Colville Tennis Club; Coromandel Basketball Club; Coromandel Ping Pong Club; Coromandel School Committee; Coromandel Gun Club; Coromandel Boating Club; Girl Guides, Boy Scouts and churches. A further meeting of these representatives is to be held on June 25 to elect an executive or working committee. These representatives would be in a position to find out the wishes or desires of the various sections of the people in regard to the suggested plans for a war memorial.