WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 97, 24 March 1939, Page 8

WOODVILLE & DISTRICT

REST ROOM

CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL

A meeting of town and country residents, held last evening, presided over by the Mayor (Mr R. K. Johnston) resolved that the district Centennial memorial take the form of a. ladies rest room and Plunket room, the site to be that of the existing municipal library building, in Ormond Street. The meeting was one which had been adjourned from the previous week owing to the small attendance of the committee, but last evening there was a much larger gathering, and at the close it was decided that those present numbering about 40 persons, should be added to the general committee. The Mayor related what steps had l>een taken up to that period, and said it would bo necessary to decide on the amount of money t-o be raised. He submitted a plan prepared gratuitously by Mr H. Nicholls, of a Ladies’ rest room and Plunket room, which won hi be adaptable to any of the various sites that had previously been under discussion. The proposed rest room would supply a want for the country women, and he felt sure that the scheme would have the co-operation of both town and country. The proposed budding would lie an acquisition to the town. The meeting was representative of practically every institution. The estimated cost of the building, according to the plan, was £llOO, which was probably more perhaps than they could afford, as it would mean that they would have to raise £9OO or £IOOO, plus the Government subsidy of 5s in the £. Various other towns had decided on the Centennial memorial, and he urged that tlie Woodville project should receive the fullest support.

In reply to Mr J. M. Graham, the Mayor said his idea was to raise the money by public subscription. If they raised £6OO it would mean, with the subsidy, an ultimate total ef £BOO. Applications for the subsidy closed on 15th inst., but other towns had also delayed in making application. If the meeting determined that evening the amount it was proposed to raise, application for the subsidy could be made immediately.

M r J. J. Young thought, in view of past experience, a sum of possibly £9OO could be raised by means of a queen carnival. The Mayor replied that queen carnivals involved a great deal of work for several weeks. If public subscriptions did not realise anticipations, then they could devise another method. He suggested that they might raise £OOO.

Mr E. A. Cattanaeh doubted very much whether that amount would be subscrib'd.

The Mayor disagreed, and pointed out that £6OO was raised by a queen carnival during the slump period. He would like to see a substantial, attractive building erected. The Mayor moved that the meeting endeavour to raise £BOO, the subsidy on which would increase the sum to £llOO. This was seconded by Mr J. S. Mcßean, and carried unanimously. The Mayor proposed that the meeting approve of the rest room and Plunket room. Mr J. J. Young seconded the motion.

Air J. Bcaney advocated a choice of ideas being submitted for an alternative selection, and he moved an amendment- in favour of a playground similar to that in Dannevirke. This was seconded by Mr R. H. Morgan.

The Mayor instanced several sites that the Borough Council laid offered for selection for the rest- room. Mr H. P. Homo remarked that the selection of the site was essential in launching the scheme. He supported the library site (in a side street). Mrs H. P. Horne stated that the Plunket Society, at a meeting, had expressed itself definitely opposed to removal to the main street.

Mr Cattanaeh asked what was wrong with the existing Plunket room.

Mr Horne said tlie society was con tented with it.

The Mayor, who championed the main street site, stated tluit the existing Piunkct building was old, likewise the library building. He urged that it was time some of the vacant sections in the main street were filled. A substantial structure such as he had advocated would be a credit to Woodville. The main street could stand a lot of improvement. Mrs Horne inquired what provision would lie there for looking after the new Plunket room. The Mayor did not anticipate any difficulty, believing that adjoining business firms would assist in this connection.

Mrs Horne was not hopeful of this idea being a success, and said the Plunket Society had for 15 years experienced a great deal of trouble. In the subsequent discussion on various aspects," Messrs L. J. Whittington, H. P. Horne, the Mayor, and Mr Beanoy took parft. Mr J. McCormick urged the adoption of a progressive scheme. Mr Mcßean proposed a school library, there being ample room at the grounds for such an institution. Mr Home considered this was a good idea, and he recalled the origin of the local library 60 years ago, and paid a tribute to the founders.

There being no seconder, Mr McBci’.n’s proposal lapsed. Mr Beaney's amendment was then put and lost, the Mayor’s original motion being carried. The question of a site was then debated. Mrs Horne asked what assurance was there a future council would not levy the Plunket Society £lB ]>er annum for rates if the meeting agreed on the m.ain street site The Mayor informed her that trustees would he appointed by the Borough Council and the County Council, and the society would not be rated. The Mayor moved that the main street site be selected, and Mr J. J. Young seconded. Mrs Horne declared that the Plunket Society would not remove to the main street. In the course of the site debate, Mr Horne suggested that it might he better to proceed with the collecting and defer the .site question meanwhile. Mr A. Olsson moved an amendment that the library site he selected. Mrs Horne seconded. Mr R. C. Leach maintained that a caretaker would be necessary. Sir Cattannch alluded to the whole scheme being endangered if the main street site was persisted in. Mr Nicholls explained the design of the building, it constituting an annexe, if erected on the library site Mr E. J. Harding said they cmdd not expect the librarian to attend also to the rest room and Plunket room. After fhe merits of the main street and the library sites had been further debated, the amendment for the library site was put and declared carried, the voting being 19 for and 12 against, a number remaining neutral. On the motion of the Mayor and Mr R. Hurdle, Messrs J. C. Bolt-on, H. P. Horne. R. H. Morgan, Edgar Harding. J. Sullivan, J. S. Mcßean and the Mayor were appointed a sub-com-mittee to organise the raising of the necessary funds.