COUNTY REFUSES SUPPORT

Southland Times, Issue 23336, 21 October 1937, Page 4

COUNTY REFUSES SUPPORT

CENTENNIAL MUSEUM COUNCILLOR OBJECTS TO “COMPULSORY” REQUEST For the second time since it was asked to support the erection of a centennial memorial for Southland the Southland County Council has declined to contribute any money towards the memorial which will take the form of a museum. The council discussed the matter at its meeting yesterday, and although a number of the councillors was in sympathy with the proposal to erect a museum in Invercargill as a memorial commemorating the centenary of New Zealand, they were not disposed to commit the county to a contribution of £2198, the amount levied by the Centennial Executive Committee. Cr T. Golden, who sponsored the motion declining the request for financial support, Sefid he objected to what amounted to a “compulsory” request for a contribution. The chairman (Cr A. S. McNaught) who with the County Clerk (Mr H. C. Gimblett), attended the last meeting of the Centennial Executive Committee, reported that the county was assessed to contribute the sum of £2198 out of a total of £7OOO. The assessment was arrived at on the basis of capital value of population. The assessment for the Invercargill City Council was £1294. The Gore Borough Council indicated that it was not prepared to contribute to the fund as it proposed extending the library in its own town, and any funds raised would be used for the purpose. “At the meeting,” said the chairman, “I stressed the point that the county was not prepared to commit itself and also expressed the opinion that the assessment for the county was very much on the high side. Any contribution agreed on by this council would be spread over a period of three years. It is proposed to construct a museum at an approximate cost of £17,000 and the Government is prepared to subsidize it on the basis of £1 for every £3 raised both by way of contributions from local authorities and from private individuals. Over and above the cost of £17,000 there will be a fairly large expenditure in fitting out the museum, which it is estimated will have a total floor space of 8350 sq. ft. “As far as I can see the public bodies of Southland are not unanimous about contributing. The Wallace County Council is definitely not going to contribute,” added Mr McNaught. LETTER FROM COMMITTEE A letter from the secretary of the Centennial Executive Committee, Mr W. F. Sturman, was read. “Another meeting of the Southland Centennial Executive Committee will be held next month, by which time it is the wish of the executive that the councils will have indicated their willingness to contribute to the memorial for Southland by making provision on the estimates, spread, if necessary, over a period of years,” wrote the secretary. “For your information the Invercargill City Council has made provision on the estimates this year for one-third of its contribution, thus spreading the payment over three years.” “We turned this down < about 12 months ago and there appears to be more reason for turning it down now,” said Cr T. Golden. “If the county wishes to do something in the way of a monument to mark the first 100 years there are the back-blocks roads to consider. That would be a lasting monument and worth while.” He said he objected to what amounted to a compulsory request for a contribution. If the memorial was going to be a provincial affair let those interested go to the ratepayers and seek voluntary subscriptions. If the country people were interested they would probably contribute. There should be no suggestion of compulsion, however. He moved that the request be declined. Cr G. A. Wraytt said he would like to see the council give a little towards the memorial, Cr G. W. Whittingham: What do you call a little? It certainly was an interesting stage in the history of the country, said Cr L. A. Niederer, who supported the request. “I think we should contribute,” he said. “We should join in the centenary spirit and help the scheme. The work will be distributed among the people of the city which will derive an indirect benefit, and I really think the city people should contribute the major portion. It is a general and provincial scheme and we should not pour cold water on it. By assisting we will help the proposal along. We will not be exceeding our powers if we contribute and I don’t think the ratepayers will take any exception to it. We should not close the door on the scheme. REQUESTS FROM SETTLERS Cr J. Dennis said that although he was in sympathy with the proposal he did not think, in fairness to the ratepayers that the council could make any worthwhile contribution. Apart from the need for commemorating the centenary he thought there was some need for such an institution in Invercargill. “However, we often have to refuse deserving requests of settlers for roads and I do not think we should give anything to this,” he added. Cr Whittingham said that the ridings needed the money most. If the council gave the contribution apportioned it would mean that each riding would be responsible for about £250. “That is a lot of money,” he said, “money which could well be used in the interests of ratepayers. We should not give away the ratepayers' money and I am not prepared to support any proposal in that direction.” ,

“I should like to see some building of this description in Invercargill,” said Cr W. M. Norman, “but what will the ratepayers think if after declining many of their requests we contributed to the fund?” He said that the County Council had a big overdraft at the bank and the Government had continued to refuse the council necessary assistance for certain works.

Cr F. F. Trapski said he supported Cf Golden and he would second the motion. There were too many backblocks roads requiring attention first. “The matter has been pretty well talked out,” said Cr J. McNeill. He said he would like to see the city succeed in carrying out the idea, but he thought the management made a mistake in its apportionment of the contributions. If the amount was altered the council might consider contributing something, even though there were their own necessary works to be considered. “I think it a mistake to consider building such a building during a period of boom,” he said. “Costs are going up and it is almost impossible to get some materials. I think the easiest way to get funds would have been to have started an art union. I do not feel disposed to support the request for a contribution unless the amount is reduced.” “I would like to see the museum go on and would like to see Invercargill get its share of advancement, but the amount asked for is unreasonable,” said the chairman. Cr Niederer then moved as an amendment that the council discuss the matter further with the Centennial Executive Committee before refusing the request. “We could exolain our position

then, and we might not be expected to contribute so much,” he said. The amendment, which was seconded by Cr Wraytt, was lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it. The motion, that the request be declined, was carried.