Public Opinion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 278, 24 November 1945, Page 2

Public Opinion

HUNTERVILLE WAR MEMORIAL

Sir, -Certain statements made by the chairman of the Hunterville Town Board in his interview with your correspondent as published in your issue of November 21 call for comment.

Before doing so, however we should like the public uf this district, who have so generously supported us during the past 16 years, and are even more generously supporting us to-day, to be acquainted with the true position regarding the purchase of the building known as “The Mart,” Hunterville, which the association purchased some months ago. In February last, the association obtained an option over the premises which, through the generosity of certain keen supporters of the R.S.A , became the association's property soon after. This building while admittedly situated in a convenient part of the township, was severely damaged by fire some years ago and patched. Prior to the association purchasing, part of the building was used as a secondhand mart ©nd part as an office foi the Rabbit Board, etc. No other purchaser was in evidence at the time of the association making its purchase. The object of this purchase was to provide this branch with a central meeting place of its own but still retaining the office accommodation, and leaving a lock-up shop in front of the old mart. It is significant that no objection or opposition was expressed to the R.S.A. for making this purchase, until some few weeks ago when the chairman of the Town Board mooted his proposals for a memorial hall.

Plans and specifications were prepared and sent to the board in lime for its October meeting, but instead of dealing with the small matter of compliance with the by-laws, the board took up the attitude that the association had no right to purchase what it called ia “valuable business site” and deferred its consent. Why the board .should stage such an attack on the R.S.A. is beyond comprehension.

The association then wrote the board for urgency in granting approval, having meantime duly considered the Town Board chairman's proposal and unanimously decided on a counter-proposal. At its November meeting the board, instead of approving our plans, unanimously adopted the chairman’s proposal for a memorial hall and called on the association to reconsider its decision to go ahead with the present arrangements for remodelling its building. It is perhaps only coincidence that the delaying attitude of the board and the published reports of its deliberations should receive prominence at a time when the association’s appeal—the only one if has made in its 16 years of existence—was well launched.

The association is surely entitled to acquire, and to retain and improve, premises of its own, especially when by so doing the association is in no wav interfering with the business sites in Hunterville.

Moreover the chairman and every member of the board knows full well that there are two empty shops in Hunterville to-day and four shop premises used for residential purposes right in the heart of the township. We challenge the chairman’s statement that three men, two -qf them returned servicemen, were prepared to purchase this building, as not one single possible purchaser has approached this association or any member of the executive with the view of buying the premises. Furthermore, the chairman’s published statement’that by retaining this building the association would be

“preventing a returned man from rehabilitating himself and also impede the progress of the town” is an unwarranted as it is irresponsible, and in our view a most reprehensible statement to emanate from one holding the eminent position of chairman of the Town Board.

So far as a memorial for this district is concerned the association felt that as the township already has three j*a s and a fourth one in view a fifth hall was overdoing things and it unanimously adopted the proposal to establish a fully equipped dual purpose hospita! at Hunterville. Should the Wanganui Hospital Board take over the existing hospital, we are informed authoritatively that maternity benefits alone . will be provided and that no provision will be made for general and surgical cases. 4u? any.case the association feels 1 i- k ear,n & i n mind the purpose for which a memorial is erected, it is a matter for a public meeting representative of the whole district.—We are Branch, K. 1 * 1 ' ‘ he HunterviiJe ’

M. S JONES, president. W L. LOW. vice-president. M.mi W. C. SMITH, hon. secretary Hunterville November 22, 1945,