CENTENNIAL MEMORIALS

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4811, 17 July 1939, Page 5

CENTENNIAL MEMORIALS

SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS MADE. The proposals for the payment of the £1 for £3 subsidies for Centennial memorials must, after passing through the sub-provincial and provincial committees, be in the hands of the Dominion Centennial Committee by September 30. This fact was revealed at the Waitomo County Council meeting on Friday, in a letter from the Town Clerk, Hamilton, stressing the urgency of forwarding the proposals with plans. Mr. Roberts said that at Mahoenui it was proposed to purchase a 7-acre block of native land for use as a recreation ground. Though this would be a fairly expensive matter, the residents were prepared to give much assistance, as a recreation ground was so badly wanted in the district. Cr. Crocombe said the high cost of maintenance of the proposed Centennial light at Pio Pio had been thought to be too dear, and it was considered that another project would prove more acceptable. This was for the erection of a suitable shed in the Pio Pio Domain. The Domain Board would be prepared to spend £4O towards this work, the riding would contribute £25, and with help from the residents it should be possible to have a memorial costing £l5O at Pio Pio.

Cr. Lee said he had under consideration the planting of trees on the lawn in front of the Waitomo and Ahoroa schools. He also acquiesced in a suggestion made by the Hangatiki Hall Committee that permanent gates and a few trees be erected at the the other proposals to be put forward Hangatiki Hall, and agreed that this be included with the other proposals to be put forward to receive the Government subsidy. Cr. Black suggested the concreting of the triange in Mokau as a memorial, with tree planting at Awakino to mark the occasion. When final decisions have been made on the matter, and the necessary plans prepared, applications in respect of the works mentioned, and also in respect of proposals for the other ridings, are to be forwarded seeking the Government's subsidy of £1 for £3.

Cr. Georgetti, though he held that in such a scattered County as Waitomo residents would demand memorials in the indivual townships, raised a query as to whether the Government would subsidise proposals scattered over the whole County such as were being made. A general discussion on this matter followed, during which the opinion was emphatically impressed that support would not be found for any memorial proposition in any one portion of the County, but that in the manner suggested ratepayers and not only residents would acquiesce in the spending of County funds, but they would in most instances raise sums for their local memorials. Whilst in Wellington for the Counties' Conference, delegates are to make inquiries as to the conditions of the subsidy.

In accordance with the notice of motion given, the Council decided to authorise each riding to spend up to £25 on suitable Centennial memorials.