CORONATION MEMORIAL

Timaru Herald, Volume XCIV, Issue 14458, 2 June 1911, Page 6

CORONATION MEMORIAL

■ AJIBTJLAXCE'HALIi. J THE MAYOR'S yiEtfß.' j "-' As there has been some talk and correspondence concerning the proposal to build a. hall for tho Timaru branch of St. John Ambulance Brigade, a representative of the "Herald"' waited on tho Mayor yesterday to ask hini what was the esact position of .'affairs, ind whether he intended to assist the Brigade in the matter. "Most decidedly I do," Mr Craigie replied. Continuing, he said that he looked upon the St. Jolm Anibulanco Brigade 'as a very worthy institution, 'and the.members of it, who worked so' Well and "so successfully in the public interest,.were worthy of the best support that could be given them. The position was that some time ago, the Brigade asked the Borough Council to assist them in securing a Hall. The Council looked around for a suitable site (being assisted in this by the Brigade) but they were unable at thai time to get a suitable section, centrally situated. Moreover the Borough solicitors advised that the Council could not legally devote their funds to such a purpose. The Council thought that they would have been able to pay the rent of a hall fcr the Brigade, but found that they could not legally do even this.

' Xest, Mr Craigie said, he approached the Minister with a view to getting a site in the Post Office grounds, or in the alternative, one aL the back of the land Office, facing Beach road. He also .endeavoured to get the Minister to give a £ for £ -subsidy on any sum .raised locally on behalf or' the Brigade. The Minister promised to give these requests his careful consideration.

Nothing more was done in the matter until after the visit of Sir Joseph Ward to Mt. Cook, when a deputation from tho Brigade met the Prime Minister at Temuka. and asked him to ass'st- them -by giving them the use of a Government section in Timaru on which to huHd a hall. Sir .Tosonh tb-en promised to confer with him (Mr Craigie) and «e what could be done. At this time Sir Joseph "Ward was exceptionally busy, but he promised to look into th» matter of sites the first time he could visit Timaru. At the same time he

said that whatever he did for Tiniaru iii this connection ]io would have to do all over the Dominion. The first time that' Sir Joseph was able to visit T.niaru after this, was on tho occasion of his farewell visit prior to leaving for England," when he was the guest of .the Borough Council and only stopped hare between two trains. Thero was no time to bring these matters before thw Premier then, nor would it .hare been wise, if there had been time, seeing that he was thoir guest. llrat briefly, was the position to. date. "But Mr Craigie said ho intended to do his best to set for the Brigado what they so badly needed. In addition to the two sites above referred to he hnd a third one hi view, coiiccrning the .EuitaMouess of which lie would, consult the Brigade, and he would take an early opx)ortunity of endeavouring to secure one of the three, and t< got the Government to giv.- a £ for'£ subsidy on the cost of the building. '"What in your opinion would tinbuilding cost?" Mr Craigie replied that he thought a suitable building would cast £SOO or £-600: and in view of the fact that the Acting-Prime Minister declined to give n subsidy for such a building if erected ax a Coronation memorial, it was out of the question under that head. The proposed band rotunda would only cost about. £303. and as the Government will find half the east, tljey would h.< able to manage that. But with the co-operation of members of tlis Ambulance Brigade lie felt confident that il would not be long before the desired section and lu-.1l would be obtained.

To the Editor ci the "Timaru Herald.'' Sir, —TLn suggestion by Councillor I Aug;ai'.3 to cc-iiect funds fev tho pur- ', I pose of erecting a buiioi.'ig for the £t , .John Aabitiaiics Association is to uvy j mind djsenhig of every consideration, and 1 surely trust that this matter will be carried to a successful issue, and personally 1 should be glad to see His Worship the Mayor call a public meeting to consider the question. Soma stress Has been laid by those opposed to this proposal on two facts, namely that whatever money is collected carries no Government subsidy, and' also that it would be impossible to raise suflicieut funds to carry the .-.cheme to a successful issue • I don't think there is anything in this. The Brigade do not require to purchase a section m the busiuess part of Timaru. What they require is a small section in a suitable and quiet locality, where the lectures could be given without any noisy interruption by outside traffic, and I feel sure one could be obtained at a ■ moderate price. Probably one 'if the Borough leasehold sections could ie obtained- at a moderate rental. 1 also understand that the Ambulance Association are now x>aying l.js per week . rent::,! for the room at present occupied. If a section could be obtained reasonably and jnud for. and a building erected .for their use, the present rental would be ample to pay interest on a £7OO building, which would' be large enough for present use, and the cost of same could bo reduced annually on the iir.es kindly offered by Mr Shiricliife in his letter in Wednesday's issue. There is another point, name-' ly, I understand tho present nieniber- ; ship of the Ambulance A.ss<x-iation I comprises S3 members. Since this proposal was mooted, I learn with that- a largo number of our young people are thinking of joining ; the Association, but their present rooms aro not large enough for present members, lot alone admitting | others. What more useful purpose [could be suggested than to assist in.a j movement to educate all classes to be jiji-a position if called upon to be able jto relieve suffering at a momenta I notice? None. A band rotunda is j not. in it. and I am sure Mr Craigie ! iriil be orily too glad to help in aiiy w : ay to make this movement n success, and trust it will he.—l am etc., I JOHN E. HL'RDLEY.