LIVING MEMORY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26416, 21 March 1947, Page 6

LIVING MEMORY

TRIBUTE TO FALLEN COMMUNITY CENTRES LOGICAL “Dunedin is the most adult city in the Dominion. It has the finest civic sense, and I. do not say this only because it is prudent,” said Mr K. Melvin, Dominion president of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. Association, during his address to a largely-attended meeting of the Dunedin branch of the association last night on the subject of war memorials. Mr Melvin, said the association was in favour, unequivocally of community centres as war memorials throughout the Dominion. , • “The association decided that it was adverse to mausoleums and plinths,’’ Mr Melvin said. '*>ool members favour community centres. When fighting overseas, the Kiwi hoped that something worthwhile would emerge from that senseless conflict. No Kiwi

aoldier ever said that he wanted a museum for a war memorial.” The Association had approved the concept of a community centre, Mr Melvin said, so he had brought the plans, prepared by the Auckland branch for an elaborate and useful community centre there, for local study. It provided for everything a community of people could desire' in the way of recreational and cultural pursuits. “If our plan is. adopted there is one thing that will be insisted upon'without argument,” he spid. “In the foyer will be a shrine in memory of < the fallen. We don’t want an out-of-the-way chapel in the rear of the building to be used once a year on Anzac Day. We want it to be right in the front. This idea of a community centre, which I hope you. will be able to sell to the people of Dunedin, should be a combination of unity, dignity and- reverence.” . . . .. It was stated that the plan, which it was hoped would be adopted in Auckland, was to be shown to the Mayor, Mr Cameron.