War Memorial

Northland Age, Volume XVIII, Issue 15, 19 November 1948, Page 1

War Memorial

Meeting Held Last evening in the County Chambers there was a representative gathering representing the public, Sports bodies, R.S.A., H.S.A. and Local Bodies. The Mayor of Kaitaia, Mr. D. Archibald Snr., was in the chair. The meeting was a continuation of that held last month and convened by the Kaitaia Borough Council, when a committee was set up to make recommendations for the form the war memorial is to take. This meeting was called to consider proposals and the committee’s report. Mr. Archibald report that there was an area of 61 acres available at Grigg’s Corner which would prove most suitable as a playing and recreation park. He was sui'e that this would meet the need of sporting bodies, and also would prove to be by the erection of gates or something of that nature, a most impressive and imposing War Memorial.

Mr. H. M. Thompson expressed the opinion that the first consideration was one of the forms the War Memorial was to take. He considered that the discussion on a certain piece of land should not at this stage enter into the of things. Mr. A, M. Theed supported Mr. Thompson, and said that h e thought that the Government subsidy would probably apply only to a Community Centre, such as was mooted at the first meeting, when such things as playing areas for children, swimming pool and band rotunda were incorporated in the scheme. Mr. J. Morrison said that the previously mentioned area in Bank St. was the most logical place for a memorial and would serve a utilitarian and pleasant purpose. Mrs. Bird spoke, as delegate from North Auckland Federation of Women’s Institutes, stro»gly in favour of an area which could be a place of beauty and rest, similar to the memorial of Hamilton of World War I. Mr. Mackintosh 0 f the Cricket Association ,favoured the 61 acres suggestion of a War Memorial Park. Mr. Holder stated that he considered this proposed area of 61 acres was too far away. “When we get a tram service we might be able to take the children from the State Houses to play there,” he said. Mr. Senn said the first object should be to make certain just what a War Memorial subsidy Would be paid on. He felt that this meeting was jumping its fences before it came to them. Mr. J. Gill representing the R.S.A., favoured the adoption of a scheme which embraced a good area, but later through the discussion, he asked if the ltieeting was discussing sports grounds or war memorial. Mr. Theed suggested that the meeting adjourn to enable delegates to report back to their respective bodies, and thus be enabled to come to the next meeting with the sanction and authority of those bodies for something concrete. Mr. J. Gill strongly supported this, and after some further discussion, it was decided that this would be carried out. The Committee was empowered to call the next meeting early in the New Year.