WAR MEMORIAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27500, 21 September 1950, Page 8

WAR MEMORIAL

Sports Centre Chosen Ey Meeting COUNCIL’S APPROVAL REQUIRED One hundred and seventy persons present at a public meeting in the Main Town Hall last night chose a sports centre on the Caledonian Ground as a war memorial for Dunedin. The sports centre is estimated to cost £20,000, of which £8333 would be provided by way of a subsidy if the Government decides that the scheme qualifies for one. The voting on the three proposals before the meeting was:—Sports centre, 80 votes; library community centre, 56; reclamation of Anderson’s Bay Inlet, 32. The choice does not mean that the project will proceed. The Dunedin City Council has yet to decide whether the proposal is a suitable war memorial for the city. For the most part, the discussion was on sectional lines.

The sports centre proposed consists of a building situated in the Caledonian Ground incorporating an indoor sports gymnasium, a grandstand serving the outdoor sports field, and meeting rooms, dresing _ rooms and shower rooms, etc., serving both the indoor and outdoor playing areas. The space for indoor games is 70ft x 50ft, and the grandstand is to seat 720. The architect has designed the building to have the dignity of appearance required of a war memorial. The meeting appointed the present committee as the nucleus of an Appeal Committee. The Mayor, Sir Donald Cameron, who presided; outlined the history of the events leading up to the meeting. He said that the interim Dunedin War Memorial Committee had been instructed to investigate more fully the three proposals selected by voting at the last public meeting. Subsidy Position

tion, outlined the proposal to reclaim a part of the Anderson’s Bay inlet at an estimated cost of £90,000, with a subsidy of £22,333, leaving £67,667 to be found.

Asked whether the grounds at the inlet would be given over to organised sport free of charge, Mr Mathers said that the association had never intended that the area should become a “ second Carisbrook,” nor had the question of ground charges ever been discussed. The grounds would be used by school children, archers, and others.

‘‘How much did the public raise for the Cenotaph in the Queen's Gardens? ” asked a member of the audience.

The Mayor: It cost about £7OOO, and I know that the last £IOOO took a long time to raise. Sir Donald went on to say that he would be pleased to indicate to the Appeal Committee to be appointed a number of citizens who were good at raising money. A woman, speaking in support of the Anderson’s Bay proposal, said that buildings as war memorials were outdated.

Sir Donald told the meeting that the council had been informed that if the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr Bodkin, were informed of the decision on the war memorial before September 30, the subsidy would not be prejudiced provided that the full details were supplied as soon as possible after that date. The chairman of the Interim Committee, Mr W. R. Brinsley, presented the report on the three proposals on behalf of the committee. This stated that the sports centre was suitable for

A man contended that the City Council and Otago Harbour Board should be left to undertake the reclamation of the inlet. Asked how long it would take to raise £60,000, Mr Mathers said that at the end pf two years, £ 25,000, including Government subsidies, should have been collected. After that, the amount would depend on the Appeal Committee. Community Centre

Dr W. P. Morrell, representing the Dunedin Public Library Association, outlined the proposal for a library community centre to cost £40,000, with a subsidy of £12,333, leaving £27,667 to be raised. Dr Morrell said that he did not think that this proposal was, as had been suggested, a sectional one. The creation of such a building. would provide something which did not exist in Dunedin. The association would not benefit directly, but theatrical, art and other groups would be able to use it, as well as the public generally. A man objected that Dr Morrell had rather taken advantage of the time allocated to him to place the proposal before the meeting to criticise other schemes. He said that the Concert Chamber was provided by the city a theatre.

a memorial provided that it embodied some suitably dignified feature, it was financially practicable, and the committee assumed that the City Council would consent to the site. The committee agreed on the suitability °f the Anderson’s Bay inlet, but doubted whether this scheme was financially practicable. The library scheme was suitable and financially practicable, and the consent of the council to the site was assumed. The sponsors of each of the three schemes were then each given 10 minutes to explain their proposals more fully, and succeeding speakers were allowed three minutes each by the chairman. Mr R. O. Johnson, representing the Otago Provincial Council of Sport, explained the proposal of a sports centre on the Caledonian Ground. This was estimated to cost £20,000, with a subsidy of £8333. leaving £11,667 to be collected. A member of the audience asked Mr Johnson whether the various sports bodies would contribute towards the annual maintenance of the proposed sports centre. Mr Johnson said that if the building were erected, the sports bodies which used it would pay rent. A man asked whether the building would be open to the public at all times, and whether there would be a charge for admission. The Mayor replied that the building would be vested in the. City Council, which would control it.

Replying, Dr Morrell said that the Concert Chamber was rather large for some performances.

The accusation that “ a mass of young people ” had been sent along to the last public meeting to vote on the sports centre proposal was made by a speaker who said that he had a better scheme than any of the three proposed. There was a chorus of protest from parts of the hall as this speaker proceeded, and the chairman asked nim not to refer to that subject again. The issue was then put to the vote. mosgiells decision Picnic Ground And Motor Camp The war memorial for Mosgiel will take the form of a combined picnic ground and motor camp. This was decided at a public meeting held in Mosgiel on Tuesday night. The suggestion that has been adopted was put forward in 1947, when the matter was first discussed. It is one which the Businessmen’s Association has also considered fitting. The park will be situated beside the Silverstream, on the north side of the borough near the Taieri Baths.

Another speaker said that the proposal did not appeal to him as a suitable war memorial for the city, as it catered for only one section of the community. Another speaker pointed out that each of the proposals was sectional. Inlet Scheme

Other proposals included dressing sheds and clubrooms at the baths, a recreation ground for summer and winter sports, a hall large enough for indoor sports, and a public library. The swimming club’s proposal was discussed at length, but was defeated on the vote.

Mr W. J. Mathers, representing the Anderson's Bay Ratepayers’ Associa-

There were 17 people present at the meeting.