RAETIHI CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 240, 11 October 1938, Page 3

RAETIHI CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL

DEPUTATION WAITS ON COUNTY COUNCIL (From Our Own Correspondent.) RAETIHI, Oct. 8. At its meeting on Saturday last the Waimari.no County Council received a deputation headed by Mr. H. E. Frederick and representatives of the Women’s Institute, Women's Division of the Farmers’ Union, Waimarino Farmers' Union, Waimarino A.P.H. and I. Association and the Raetihi Retailers’ Association. Mr. Frederick, who spoke for the deputation, stated that they were opposed to the proposal of the Raetihi Borough Council to renovate the swimming baths at Raetihi as a fitting memorial for the district in connection with the centennial celebrations. He stated that the Raetihi Borough Council had not consulted the organisations he represented, nor had they given them an opportunity to express an opinion as to what form the memorial should take. He then read several letters from the Hon. Mr. Parry and secretary of the National Memorial Committee, showing what steps he had taken to assure that all sections of the community would have an opportunity to express their views. He asked that the County Council assist them in the matter.

The chairman (Cr. D. J. Berry) stated that as far as the County County Council was concerned it desired the local bodies to decide upon a type of memorial by agreement ana the county would then support the proposals, though the financial support would not be great. Cr. Solly: Have you waited on the council?

Mr. Frederick: Yes, but we could not get any information. We ask for your support to form a committee representing the town and country. Cr. Scarrow stated that the County Council should not have to decide upon a memorial, nor should the Raetihi Borough Council alone be asked to decide. It would be necessary to have the wholehearted public support behind any scheme decided upon and this would not be forthcoming if all sections of the community were not consulted.

The chairman stated that he sympathised with the deputation in its desire to have all bodies represented in formulating a type of memorial commemorative of the town ana district. "Apparently you desire the council not to make any definite decisions until a representative committee has met.’’ He assured the deputation that a full discussion on the matter would take place. The deputation then withdrew.

The council then considered the matter and decided to inform the Raetihi Borough Council that it could not lend financial aid to a memorial for the town and district unless all sections of the community had had an opportunity of discussing and agreeing upon a suitable type of memorial.