A Good Offer.

Patea Mail, Volume XXXIV, 24 May 1911, Page 2

A Good Offer.

Ix a circular recently issued to local bodies, the Minister of Internal Affairs notifies that the Government is prepared to consider applications by city and borough councils, county councils, town boards, and harbor boards, for a subsidy towards the cost of erecting buildings, etc., for public purposes in commemoration of the coronation of ilis Majesty King George V. Tho following are considered suitable objects : Town halls, libraries s , swimming baths, fountains, avenues of trees and band rotundas. Tho amount of the subsidy will not exceed £'2so, and will be payable on the basis of £ for £ on tho amount expended by the 'o al authority out of its funds or out of moneys raised by public subscriptions for tho purpose, that is to say, if the amount so expended is £SOO tho maximum subsidy of £250 will bo granted, and a lesser sum in proportion if oxpendi date is less than £SOO. In view of the requirements of Patea in connection with tiie erection of a town hall, domain improvements etc, it will be a suicidal policy on tho part of the burgesses not to avail themselves of tho offer of £250 which is made to them. It is not every day in the week that local bodies are offered a straight out gilt of so large a sum and the offer should on that occount be the more acceptable. Of th" subjects mentioned in the circular of tho Minister es being suitable for commemorating the coronation of the King, we do~uot think that the burgesses could choose a more popular one, or one that is inoro urgently needed at the present time than the first on the list, namely, a town hall, No town can be considered complete without an up-to-date building for public meetings and for amusements, in fact a town without such a building is at least a hundred years behind the times. A memorial should of necessity bo something that will be lasting, and expenditure on' fireworks or on ceremonial we feel sure, bo com.loi.noed by ihe majority of the burgesses, Under the circumstances therefore, we do not think a bettor moans would bo found of expending the sum at rresent offered than by devoting it towards the cost of erecting an up-to-date building to be called for proforoneo " King George's Hall."