CENTENNIAL COUNCIL MEMORIALS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23669, 29 November 1938, Page 3

CENTENNIAL COUNCIL MEMORIALS

THE EXECUTIVE'S SELECTION As several inaccurate statements have been circulated with reference to the proposals for local celebration of the centenary of the Dominion and to the circumstances in which the selection of a memorial was made, we have been asked to publish a resume of what has actually taken place. When a motion to review the situation was approved by the Memorials Committee, the whole matter was considered by a full meeting of the Otago Provincial Centennial Council. As this body is composed of men and women whose interests cover a very large part of the community, and, moreover, was so well attended as to fill to capacity the Council Chamber of the city, a decision by those present may, it is contended, reasonably be considered as expressing the views of the people. At this large meeting four schemes were propounded, three of them most eloquently, even passionately, but the outcome was to leave a selection to the executive. This body met, and again the four proposals were reviewed, every opportunity being given to each advocate to make the most of his scheme. The result was a unanimous decision by the executive to adopt the park and scenic drive scheme. For the moment matters rest there, and it is suggested that it is now desirable that those whose projects were rejected should accept the council's decision, and not decry it and continue to oppose it.