WAR MEMORIALS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16428, 23 January 1919, Page 6

WAR MEMORIALS.

PUBLIC MEETING TO BE HELD IN t CHRISTCHURCH. >- II e The question of Canterbury's war s memorial was mentioned at yesterday's s meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League by the Mayor e (Mr H. Holland), who stated that it d was his intention to call a public '• meeting of citizens shortly to consider " what form Canterbury's peace memorial should take, and he suggested * that the executive should appoint rea presentatives to attend the meeting on s behalf of the League. It was de- " sired that the memorial should be one * worthy, of the city and of Canter--0 bury, and worthy of the gallant way in which Canterbury's sons had fought 0 and died. , It was decided that all the members 1 of the executive should attend the * meeting to represent the League. ? LINCOLN COLLEGE. i general meeting of the Lincoln Col--3 lege "old Boys' Association was held ' yesterday to consider what memorial e should be erected to old boys fallen in - the war. The chairman, Mr R. E. Alexander, stated that, bo far as ho could find j out, somewhere between 210 and 220 5 old boys of the College had enlisted I and gone into camp. The majority of theso had gono to the front, and - thefe was a record of 55 of them having 1 lost their lives. Over 50 per cent, of i the number who had gone had been either killed or wounded.' The meI morial which it had been, early in the 3 war, proposed to erect, would now be 5 totally inadequate, and the meeting t was called to consider tho erection of a special memorial. Some discussion took place as to the form which the memorial should take and in regard to the question of finance. Mr C. Wood moved that the Association erect a memorial hall, at an estimated cost of* £2000. The motion was unanimously carried, and it was decided that those present should form, a committee, with power to add to their number, to take the necessary steps in connexion with the project. Tho chairman and Mr B. SethSmith, tho secretary, together with Dr. Hilgendorf and Mr H. A. Knight, wore appointed to draw up a circular to old boys, in which the scheme would be set forth. SOLDIERS'- MEMORIAL. TO TIIK KDITOB OF "THE rBESS." Sir, —In a leader of to-day's issuo you congratulate the Building Committee of tho Returned Soldiers' Association on having abandoned its joint scheme of Hall of Memories and Soldiers' Club, it was with exceeding regret I read the news. This beautiful ideal originated in tho minds of returned soldiers, and has been steadily worked for by them for over a year. The Returned, Soldiers' Association invited a number of prominent citizens to co-operate with them in bringing this rdeal into realisation, £20,000 being required to carry out the scheme. Before appealing to tho public, the R.S.A. executive sent a circular letter to all its members, inviting donations to this worthy object. Before a single penny of public money was received, the Association had £1000 in hand, and a valuable building site. It was then felt that the time was opportune for an appeal to those who during tho war had lived in peaco and plenty, while the soldiers had ondured the unspeakable hardships and sufferings of the battlefield. Probably 14,000 men have joined tho forces from, Christchurch and the (surrounding districts. The Association, therefore invited a rich and prosperous people to subscribe less than 30s per soldier to perpetuate the comradeship of returned men, and hallow the memoTies of those who had made tho supreme sacrifice. It was because of the poor response to the appeal on the part of many wealthy people that the Building Committee (carefully note, not the R.S.A.) decided to drop the joint scheme. There are already over 2000 members of the Association, and the desire for the joint scheme is still unanimous . Roturned soldiers aro humiliated in tho retrograde stop which has been taken. Was this the spirit that stormed _ Gallipoli, that faced shell-fire and poison gas in the blood-drenched fields of Flanders, that finally secured a decisive victory for all we value in life? On no single occasion did our soldiers retreat. They never humiliated the civilian section of this land, nor caused them to hang their heads in 6hame. By their heroism and sacrifice they won for New Zealand undying fame. Those privileged to return to our shores said: "We have ft noble ideal which we desire to see carried into cffect. We will help to the utmost of our ability, but we - ask you for £20,000. Will you help us to raise it ?'' Tho reply comes back: . "Nay. ask not for £20,000. That is far j too much, considering how our businesses have suffered and tho small profits we have made. Drop tho major portion of your scheme, and wo will ] help you to raise £8000." . Oh I the humiliation all returned sol- : diers must feel. I suppose it is difficult for the keen business man to under- | stand the psychology of the soldier. Judged in terms of £ s. d.'ho cannot ] be understood. The body of a comrade lay dead in - No_ Man's Land. Ho had been killed ( whilst on patrol the night previous. ] The platoon had spent eight days in ] hell, and were to come out under cover i of darkness. Five men couldn't recon- , cile themselves to leaving a dead "cob- , bar" there, especially as the padre was ( near at hand, so out they wont to bring \ m the body for burial. In doing so, , three were badly wounded, but not one 1 repined. Yes, 1 agree that it was madness, but the soldier, not the business num. understands tho strong sentiment which binds the living to the dead. That is why the R.S.A. desired the joint scheme. It is the self-same madness which won the war, saved civilisation, and guarded the property and wealth those who were asked to subscribe £20,000. and who replied: "You aro too ambitious, make it £-8030." Please don t congratulate the R.S.A. on having abandoned the joint scheme, but rather sorrow with them in their humiliation. It is well for New Zealand that a far) nobler spirit animated our soldiers — lours, etc., W. WALKER, , kate Padre, N.Z.R B New Brighton, January 22nd. j "" f