THE CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26229, 13 August 1946, Page 2

THE CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL

Sir,—The valuable and far-sighted proposal of Mr Alfred Eccles for the establishment of a centennial memorial provincial library in which would be brought together the Hocken, McNab, and Early Settlers’ collections merits the support of all members of the community who treasure our historical records and manuscripts. The form which the centennial memorial is to take has been finally deeded upon after much hesitancy and indecision, for there was no clear conception of the nature of a memorial. While I admire the final choice for its cultural attributes, I do not think it is a memorial in the complete sense, and I suggest that a provincial library as outlined be included in the Museum extension plan as part of the memorial. This would do honour to our pioneer forefathers in a way which the proposed Museum wing will never fully ao alone. It would at the same time be an asset to the city and province. Such an opportunity to acquire a living record of our history collected into one library and preserved for posterity may never come again, and if it should it may be too late. -Ijm, etc., 9 Ronald K. McFarlaneInvercargill, August 12.