Patea & Waverley Press. WEDNESDAY MARCH 26, 1919. WAR MEMORIAL.

Patea Mail, Volume XLIII, 26 March 1919, Page 2

Patea & Waverley Press. WEDNESDAY MARCH 26, 1919. WAR MEMORIAL.

THE suggestion has been put forward recently in more than one quarter that the long looked for footbridge over the Patea river near the railway station be erected as a suitable War Memorial for the town and district. The suggestion has much in it to recommend it, but it is open to at least three objections. Firstly, that it would not bo a permanent memorial of the part played by tho district in the Great War, Secondly, that as it’s cost would be something under £4OO it would of itself be a somewhat moan way of expressing the gratitude of the public for the sacrifices that.have been made, and, thirdly, that tho bridge being a necessity should be erected by the local authorities concerned irrespective of the War Memorial or anything else. Seeing that the footbridge is a necessity without any shadow of doubt there is no reason why compromise should not be effected and the bridge erected in addition to whatever memorial is decided upon. It is now some 15 months since, as a result of representations made by the local Chamber of Commerce, a report was drawn up by the County Engineer on the subject and submitted to the County Council. Tho report showed that a footbridge 3 feet wide and 6 feet above the present decking would cost £354 11s 9d. With the bridge about 18 inches below the present decking the cost would oe considerably less. The Borough Council had previously agreed to contribute one half the cost of the work, viz., £l7B, but the County Council, not realising the urgent need of the structure, would only agree to contribute £IOO, leaving a balance of £7O to be found by an outside source if the bridge was to be built. As there is a Goveinmeit subsidy now available for any work undertaken as a War Memorial there is no reason way tho bridge should not be gone on with at once as the subsidy would amount to move than the £7G outstanding. This work could bo undeitakcn as a part of the War Memorial fur the town and district, leaving tho Improvement of lie Beach and Domain, which would be lasting, as the chief portion of the Memorial work. That the bridge is needed no one will venture to deny. The tact that tho local meat works are progressing by leaps and bounds goes to show that the number of cattle slaughtered in the near future will be greater than over. The motor traffic in the district is also greatly on tho increase. The danger to pedestrians using the bridge is therefore far greater than it was a few years ago, and it is little short of a miracle that accidents have not long since occurred. We feel sure that a very serious accident will he chronicled before long through pedestrians using the bridge unless the footbridge is provided. Wo hope tno Borough Council will move in the matter at tonight’s meeting and that it will not be many weeks, before the footbridge is an accomplished fact.