HUNTERVILLE WAR MEMORIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 272, 17 November 1945, Page 6

HUNTERVILLE WAR MEMORIAL

CONTROVERSY AS TO NATURE R.S.A. AND TOWN BOARD AT VARIANCE (0.c.) Hunterville, Nov. 14 Since the HunterviMe branch of the R. decided, at a special general meeting, to advance the proposal of a suitable modern hospital as a tilting war memorial project, the Town Board, at its meeting this week, has put forward a counter proposal favouring a Memorial Hall. Thus these two public bodies are at variance and it would seem that little progress will be made until both proposals (and others which may be submitted in the meantime) are placed before a public meeting of citizens. One unfortunate aspect to the controversy, however, is that the Town Board has again held over the R.S.A.'s application for a permit to proceed with alterations and additions to its own building in Bruce St. and, presumably in veiw of fhe Memorial Hall project, has decided to ask the association not to proceed with this scheme, for which a campaign to raise funds is already in progress and meeting with marked success. "The public who are so generously supporting us need have no fears,” saict the president of the R.S.A. (Mr. R. M. S. Jones) when the town board’s resolution was referred to him to-dav. "We intend to go right ahead With our plans for the provision of a suitable meeting room and office for ou» branch." It was in fairness to the R.S.A.'s campaign and to those who have already made donations that this statement was sought. TOWN BOARD DECISIONS When the matter was first ventilated at the Town Board meeting the chairman (Cr. R. A. Gordon), in commenting on the R.S.A. proposal of a Memorial Hospital, said that it was certainly necessary to have in the town a maternity hospital with a few beds for the treatment of other case;, but he felt that the responsibility for this service rightfully rested on the Hospital Board, the Town Board giving assistance to the proposal in every possible way. The impending closing down of the private hospital was discussed and it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. H. Dillon: “That the Wanganui Hospital Board be requested to purchase the Whare Ora Hospital for the treatment of patients from Hunterville and district.”

Cr. Gordon then submitted plans of a proposed Memorial Hall in which provision was made not onlv for the R.S.A., but for other women’s Organisations, which had assisted on the home front durin" lhe war. The hail scheme, he said, was not a new proposal. He had submitted the idea to the Patriotic Committee some months ago. The R.S.A. building Scheme had taken shape since then, he said. The plans were approved on the motion of Crs. Dillon and Donovan. At this stage further consideration was given to the R.S.A. application for a building permit, a letter from the associaiion being read asking for urgency. It was eventually resolved, on the motion of Cr. Dillon: “That in order to obtain further particulars as to the material required and the estimated cost of the proposed work for submission to the Building Controller, the matter be again held over to the next meeting of the board. Cr. Dillon further moved: That the board, having been approached by persons desirous of commencing business m Hunterville, and owing to the scarcity of premises, ask the R.S.A. to reconsider their proposal to utilise a building in the main street principally as a meeting room for its members. This was seconded by the chairman and carried unanimously. THE R.S A. VIEWPOINT

In a statement to the “Chronicle" Mr. R. M. S. Jones presented the viewpoint of the local R.S.A. "The chairman ’ and members of the Town Board," he said, “are well aware that the branch intends to go ahead with its plans to provide a suitable meeting room for its members. The matter has been before a full meeting of members on or no less than three occasions and it is indeed unfortunate that the board should wait until our appeal is launched before openly commenting on a phase of our application which does not concern lhe board in any way whatever."

Mr. Jones pointed out that the R.S.A. had been made a present of the i building in April last for the purpose of its being used as a meeting room, objection or opposition had been raised until some weeks ago when the board’s chairman had made the suggestion that as a War Memorial a Victory Hall should be erected. He had then suggested that the FCS.A. should sell the building which has been donated, but the association unanimously turned down the suggestion, continued Mr. Jones. Members felt that they wanted an office and meeting room which they could call their own and as for the demand for shop premises (as suggested by the board) it should be made clear that a shop was still to be provided in front of the remodelled building.

“At. all events," he asked, “has the board overlooked that, there are still some unoccupied or partially occupied shop premises in the town, with others occupied a.s dwellings? Has lhe board made any attempt 1o have these occupied a.s businesses?" Commenting on the hall proposal as a War Memorial Mr. Jones said that lhe town would be well provided with halls when the Parish Hall was completed and the Scots Hall improved that would provide four halls, which was surely adequate. The R.S.A. scheme for a Memorial Hospital had, on the other hand, everything to commend it. Returned men at Ihe recent general meeting xVere unanimous and enthusiastic about it. In the meantime the R.S.A. was securing plans and other information which would be all placed before a public meeting. It would be for the public to make the final decision after all, he concluded.