PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Patea Mail, Volume XLIII, 26 February 1919, Page 3

PATEA BOROUGH COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING

PEACE CELEBRATIONS,

A special meeting of the Patea Borough Council was held in the Council Chambers on Monday night, His Worship the Mayor presiding. Crs Christensen, Thompson, Hicks, Grainger, Davies, Honeyfield and May were also present. His Worship explained that he had called the meeting to consider the question of Peace celebrations for the town and also the question of a Peace Memorial. The public would be looking to tho Council for] a lead in the matter, and it was only fitting that Councillors should give the subject full consideration. Personally lie was of opinion that a fitting ccl oration should be held and if Pat : a did nothing, it would probably be the only town in the Dominion that neglected the occasion, His Worship briefly outlined the proposals of the Minister of Internal Affairs, and urged the importance of fittingly celebrating peace with a view to impressing the event on the minds of the children. With regard to a permanent memorial of peace, he strongly favoured something being done in this connection, in fact it was better than expending money in fireworks. There were many suggestions put forward, one being a memorial library which Cr May had brought forward. Another suggestion was a column with the names of those from the district who had made the Supreme Sacrifice,inscribed on it. Another suggestion was a drinking fountain. “So far as I am concerned,” continued His Worship, “ I am strongiy in favour' of a memorial park which would fill a long felt want.” Every town, he said, that had gone in for a memorial park had found this a valuable asset. Hawera in fact had found it so valuable that it had decided to go in for another. He strongly favoured the present cricket and football ground being taken over by the Council and public tennis and croquet grounds formed and the whole beautified. With regard to the new cricket and football ground that would be needed, they could carry out the Domain Board’s original idea, and drain the present swamp, and form cricket and football grounds there. The Domain Board would be willing to assist the Council by every means in their power he felt sure. In reply to Cr Grainger, His Worship said the question of finance was one for future consideration. A government subsidy would be provided from 20s in the £ to 10s, according to the amount expended. If £SOO were raised the government would subsidise this until they would have about £BSO to spend. Cr Grainger said he quite agreed with what His Worship had said. He took it that a public meeting would \ be called shortly, and the whole subject discussed. He took it that the Domain Board would be willing to hand over the control of the Domain to the Council if the Council were going to improve it. His Worship : That is so. Cr Hicks said if the Government subsidy were going begging it seemed a pity not to avail themselves of it. They should not lose the opportunity of obtaining £SOO for nothing. They could have an ornamental arch in the Domain with an inscription on it. An improved Domain was an attraction the town needed. Cr Grainger said he approved of the scheme provided it could be financed. His idea was that the Borough Council should not be called upon to find the funds. The whole of the district could be canvassed for the necessary funds. The present sw amp would make an ideal sports ground if the funds were forthcoming. Cr May said after hearing what His Worship had said, he was quite prepared to withdraw his scheme of a library in favour of the Domain. He felt this was the most sensible scheme that could be brought forward, in fact they could not have a better attraction for the town. Cr he agreed that the Domain scheme was an ideal one. The present swamp would make an ideal playing ground. Cr Christensen also supported the scheme as outlined by His Worship. He would like to see an estimate of the cost of the work furnished and laid before the public meeting. The people would, he felt sure, take up debentures if the. whole of the funds required were not subscribed. He would do his best to support the scheme, both financially and otherwise. Cr Thompson said he heartily concurred in His Worship’s views but the cost would, he feared be nearer £2OOO than £ISOO. He hoped the park would be called a Memorial Park, to impress upon the children the sacrifices that have been made in the war. Cr Honeyfield said the scheme proposed by His Worship, was worthy of every support. The finance was the only stumbling block. A suggestion that might be considered was memorial baths. His Worship said the baths would be a simple proposal once the lake was drained. His Worship in reply to Cr Honeyfield, said he did not think

the finance was as big a stumbling block as some Councillors teemed to think. The whole work would not be done in a year, but sptead over a period. They would require to have a memorial to the fallen soldiers and bis idea was to have a boundary wall in brick j?on one portion of the Domain with memorial'slabs let in with the names of the local men who bad served in the war, on each. He would move that a committee be set up to report to the Council that day week. The resolotion was seconded by Cr Christensen and carried. It was decided that all Councillors present constitute the Committee. In reply to Cr Thompson, His Worship said the details in connection with the Peace Celebrations could he discussed by the public meeting, which would be held as soon as possible. In reply to Cr Honey field, His Worship said the memorial would be a district one and not a town one. The district would he from the Manawapou to the Whenuakura river. Cr Hicks said as so many men had gone forward from the country, the country settlers would be only too glad to assist he felt sure. The meeting then adjourned.