WAR MEMORIAL.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16796, 30 March 1920, Page 6

WAR MEMORIAL.

COLUMN IN CATHEDRAL

SQUARE,

ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING OF

SUPPORTERS.

There wns a representative attendance of 150 Indies and gentleren at tho Chamber of at o p.m. yesterday in connexion with tne meeting convened by Mr George G'-uld of supporters of a war memcrial be.ng erected in Cathedral square. Upon the motion of Mr George Harper, Mr Gould was voted to the chair. , , , , Mr Gould said he was veij glad to cee so manv people there tnlcng an interest in a subject which affected tho eitv of Christchurch very deeply. _ He , had a number of apologies from various well-known people who were unable to be present. Mr Gould rend many of the letters. I all tho writers pledging their support of j a memorial being erected in Cathedral : square. Continuing, Mr Gould said he was, naturally glad to see such a representative attendance there, because, having J embarked on the matter, ho felt bound i to find out what measure of support a column or monument in Cathedral square would receive from tlic public. Unless such support were forthcoming, it would not be worth while proceeding with the project, but ho thought there was a large body of public opinion in favour of some "form of monument on the Godley statue site. (Applause.) It aopenred to him impossible that such a site as that of the Godley statue could remain for ever unoccupicd and in its present undignified pnsition behind the tramway shelter. He could not imagine it ever being put to a better use than that proposed. Nothing could be more infinitely connected with onr own feelings than a memorial to the men who hod fallen in the war. (Applause.) The Mayor (Dr. Thacker) had stated tho other dny that it was no use bothering about the site in question, because tho City Council would not allow anyone to use it. He (Mr Gould) ventured to d'lFor from Dt. Thacker. If it wero shown that a lartre body of public symnathy wns in favour of a monument' on that site, it would bo placed-there. (Applause.) His own preference would be for sometlrng in the nature of a column. (Applause.) He did not inlend to lay down precisely the actual form the monument shonld_ take; he was not competent to do It, but ho had one or two ideas on the subject. The space was limited, but a column did not take much space. The surroundings were not all one. would wish them to be, but a column dwarfed all its surroundings such ag the trnmwnv shelter, tele graph poles, and other things. Tho question of whether such a column should bo surmounted by a cross or figure had heen raised. Everyone did not think alike. He was governed, in suggesting a cross, partly by tho fact that a figure mi<?ht g've rise to an argument as to which side it was going to face. A cross, he thought, would produce no stich discussion, and in any case he thought it would be the most fitting thing to put on top of such a column. He did not wish to siy anything against the other forms of memorial proposed; he realised that everyone was entitled to his own views on such a subject. But if the sum of £25.000 was necessary to bring other proposals to completion, he very much doubted if such a sum would be obtained. He referred to the memo- : rial funds in existence already in nnd I around Christchurch. Christ's Collecro had pot in early nnd raised a sum of £13,000 or £14,000, and many of the people who hnd subscribed to that and memorials would be asked to subscribe to the city one. A number of I people also thought that a large sum of money should not be eyperided. Ho imagined tint with a max : mum expenditure of £10 000 something very good might bo nut in Cathedral "square. He thought that £10 000 was probably as much as they could got. [ A MOTION. I Mr H, W. Palmer moved:— "That this meeting of Christchurch citizens is in favour of a memorial column in Cathedral square."

Speaking in support of his motion, Mr Palmer said a column was uplifting and inspiring—for future generations more than the present. It should face to the east, because of the rising sun. There should be placed on it four bronzes, the first representing the Army, the second the Navy, incorporating with it the mercantile marine, the third industry, indicating its share in backing iin the fichting forces, and the foir-th a figure of Christ on a cross overj looking a battlefield, probably in tho vicinity .of the Hinden.burg lino. On A "so." T>'v there was n<-> ronton -trhy the base of the column should not be covered with wreaths. _Mr Jamieson seconded the motion. The proposal, he declared, met with his views entirely. : v In replv to a question, Mr Gould I snid the column would be a memorial to thoso who had fallen, and a testimony to the gallantry of all who were left. (Applause.) The motion was carried unanimously. NECESSARY STEPS. t Mr Gould said the next matter that required consideration was this: Whn£ stops should they taVo to try to carry the proie-t _ into' effect. They would have to decide they wore nrepired to_ shoulder their undertaking and see it through themselves, ov whe-t-,or tVv were to ,ioin with the Mcmo- | rial Committee o? the other nroieat was before tho public in hav'-no; some form of election to .ascertain "'hioh the majority of onim'on favoured. Ho was encouraged, seeing nil those present afternoon, in th'nJ-int tl'e-t micrht put their nroj'ect through in nnv case. * They hnd to rot monev, and they had to organise. They -rnnst work to see the project through. Whether they shn"ld "i on independent,!" or join w'th other neonlo. as had h"on snrn-octod in t|i e shane of a nlehi<soito or +V]r P ts, he would be glad to hear opinions on. COMMITTEE APPOINTED. Dt. Leyingo moved that a committee be =;et mi to collect funds, and generally to further the objects of a memorial column in Cathedral square. The committee, he said, could confer with any other commit-too which might desire to confer with it. Tho committee should not be too it would have to settle many details. In the first place, it would haye to get designs from an architect.

Mr R. M. Macdonald seconded the motion.

Mr H. J. Ranger said that unfortunately there were factions in Christchurch on the war memorial question, and unanimity by no means. He asked whether the committee to bo appointed could swav the rest of Christchurch with its idea of carrying to a successful conclusion tho project before the merlins that evening. He knew of other schemes which could attract just as large meetings as the one he was addressing, but this did not mean unanimity on the part of the citizons. He did not want altogether to be a wet blanket, but if the committee could devise a suitable means of securing the wishes of tho people he was with them.

Tho chairman said that aspect of the case wonld meet with consideration, and the committee would take suitable stens to ascertain the wishes of the majority of the people of Christchurch. Mr George Harper, after referring to the various forms of memorial proposed, said could see what they rnuld do regard : ng mcctinc the others and coding definitely to some scheme. They were entitled to try to net a majority in favour of their scheme. The public meeting in the C ; ty Council Chamber was larrely attended bv re+urned soldiers— (Interjoctir: Question) — and members of the R.S.A., quite rightly, he thought. i Colonel J. Murphy considered that if

a ballot were taken of the parents of returned soldiers, it would outweigh tho decision arrived at at the meeting in the C : ty Council Chamber.

The following committee, with power to add to its number, was appointed:—Mesdr.mes Brittnn, Geo. Fr.n'iior, Geo. Rhodes, Geo. Way, and Boyle, Archdeacon Hv_r-itt, Dr. Levinge, and Messrs Geo. Geu'.d. R. M. Mnodnnnld, Geo. Harper. Jas. Jar:ieson, Geo. Way, Geo. H. X. Hel'rere, Ge">. Jameson, H. W. Palmer, and J. T>. Millton. Upon the motion of Mr C. L. Hart, the committee were recommended to seriously consider the advisability of adopting some «ueh suggestion as that made by Mr G. L. Donaldson of finding out the opinion of the public as to whi-di scheme should be adopted. Unon the motion of Mr Palmer, a resolution was adopted thanking tho ed'tor of "Tho Press" for opening his columns to those who considered justice had not been done at tho recent public meeting in regard to the war memorial. MEETING OF COMMITTEE. At a meeting of the eommittco appointed, held subsequently, it was decided to invite all the Labour organisations in Christchurch and tho returned soldiers to appoint representatives to join the committee. It is the intention of the committee, when so completed; to meet a committee rf the Hall of Memories project, and discuss with them the. best wsy of securing the general view of the public on the matter.

The Mnvor stated at the meeting of the City Council Inst night that the question of erecting a ■war memorial in the Square had again been mooted. The Council had already decided, he took it, that no memorial was to be erected in the Square. He wished, however, the Council to take an interest in the matter, and if the bulk of the citizen? seriously thought the memorial should l>e in the Squaro the> Council must consider the position. SOME OPINIONS.

Quite a bundle of letters "was received by Mr George Gould from persons unable to attend the meeting convened by him, and all, almost without exception, approved his proposal. Sir Heaton Rhodes stated that he was in full sympathy with the project to have a monument in Cathedral square, and that he was against any memorial of an utilitarian nature.

Following are extracts:—

"I am very much in sympathy with your views ns to the question of a public memorial. While I should be sorry that any considerable liody of returned soldiers should bo disappointed that the funds raised should not be used for the establishment of th» Hnll of Memories as suggested by Mr Alpers, T do not think that that building would be a fitting memorial for all time of the ideas which we most of us have in our minds."—H. Cotterill.

"I am in full sympathy with your movement for a monument in Cathedral square."—M. A. Parnham. "Ever since_ the matter of a war memorial was raised, I have been strongly in favour of a column to be erectod somewhere in the centre of the city."— T. N. Horslny.

"I. in common with the whole house of Chrystall, am in entire sympathy with your movement to erect a monument in Cathedral square."—W. L. Chrystall.

I think it would be a great pity to lose the opportunity of erecting a monument in a conspicuous position in or near the of the city, which wnnl'! enshrine in the hearts of the people the memory of the sacrifices made for them by bemrr continually in view of passersby."—TV M. Hamilton.

"I am in sympathy wfth the movement for a column or monument in Cathedral square."—Jnnet S. Sime. "I am in favour of Mr Gould's column projor-t."—Peter Trolove.

.1 J 7 ™*® to give my own and Mrs Priest s hearty endorsement of your plan of a war memorial; also of my rh u-Her S , Estelle and Doris."— J. Priest.

I am strongly in favour of a monument to be erected in a prominent posiV" , aTe spoken to several wives and mothers, who all disapprove of the ve'*y idea of a 'Hall of Memories' as a memorial to the fallen heroes."—Jessie Moddmgs.

"In fill] sympathy with your soldiers' memorial suggestion."—E. A. Rohb. "I think the war memorial should be m the centre of the city, and that it should be some form of statuary."—W. C. Bean.

/'I heartily endorse your proposal with reference to the war memorial we should erect in Christchurch."—H. C. Ridlev.

The proposal vou have outlined in your letters to 'The Press' seems to mo the best that has ns vet been brought forward."—L. B. Wood.

f am m accord with your views and wish to snnnort your proposals."— Arnnnd McKellar.

"In the course of conversation with a number of parents and relatives who nave a.so lost their bovs, I find that the croneral wish is that a monument should be erected either on the Godlev plot or in the Cathedral grounds, opposite the back of the Bank, where the tram starts, with plates to have the names of the fallen inscribed thereon." —Lewis E. Corsbie.

"I consider that a column would prove a more lasting, prominent, and satisfactory kind of memorial than a TTnll of-Memories."—A. J. Virtue. "I am very much in favour of your suggestion of a monument in Cathedral sqrTo."—E. Smith.

"We vote in favour of your proposal for a monument in square." —M. E. and E. W. Clarkson.

"I am for the irorurmpnt in Cathedral square."-—A. H. Bristed. , "T am in favour of your form of memorial."—Maud McLean.

"Am absolntelv in sympathy with your proposal."—!?. L. Bowker. "In mv own family, and among my near relatives, there are fifteen unanimous in favoif! - of a monument."— J. B Mavne.

"I wish to yote for your proposed col"mn or *tatno in Cathedral square." —M S. Moorhouse.

"We desire monument Cathedral Rnu-re."—Dr. C. H. Upham and Mrs Ma^Kenzie.

' All our family are in favour of a monument or eolumn in Cathedral squire."—Julin Wilding. "Mv wife daughter, and self are all in favour of your suggestion to erect a monument in Cathedral square."—J. B. "Both Mrs Teschemaker and her daughters, as well as myself, desire to support rnur sutrcectinr," f or the war memorial."—Marv Rolleston. An apology for absence from the meotiner was also received from Mr Norton Francis. TO TTTK EDITOR OP "Tin! TRESS." Sir, —There seems to be such a diversity of opinion with reference to this, that I fear, with such divided ranks the ultimate result will in no way he a | credit to the citv. and may I suggest a way out of the difficulty. Let the Memorial Committee at once get to work organising canvassers to i j collect funds, placing before the public I j four issues, so that a subscriber can | ; place his or her donation to the schemo j j that appeals most. At tho conclusion I of the canvass the scheme that secures I : the largest number of subscribers should ! be the one to be adopted, and the money pooled. Bv this means I am of ■ the opinion that the appeal would meet with great results. A weeklv return I of the state of the issues could appear in the daily napers. and the question of the site co"ld be loft over until a decision resrardin? the Memorial h"d been arrived at, and then, if desired, tho sit© could bo decided by the vote of the subscribers. —Yours, etc., A. S. CLAR^SON". Christchurch, March 29th, 1920. ' to ttte ftittor of "tttb rKESS." Sir, —Is not the erection of a Halt of Memories or a bridge almost equivalent

to giving away something on condition that vou raav use it whenever you tool inclined? Most people who aclvocato a hall or bridge seem to have the idori at the hack oAlv.-ir hods that they will be able to nnke use of them. The uo.i should be to give, as readily, if rosMblo, a 1? our inils pave their lives, nnci not to bo always thinking of what we can get out of "it. If we are too disgustingly me:in to give, then we had better do nothing—Yours, etc., TOMMY. G H writes: —"Before leaving Mr GGould's meeting this afternoon I trie* to to him thnt- tho loon of a statue of' Victory was incompatible with the memorial column. _ Uur sons wont to fight for "Liberty onlv the means, not the end). Jut-her a statue of I.ibr/ty or the Cross—the latter being evVently most acceptable to those present."