WAR MEMORIAL.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16853, 5 June 1920, Page 9

WAR MEMORIAL.

COMMITTEE IN A QUANDARY. . so CONSTJI/E WITH OTHEE COMMITTEES. The War Memorial Executive Committee at a meeting yesterday afternoon decided to approach the Gould Committee and the Bridge of Remembrance Committee in order, if possible, to arrive at. some unanimity in the matter of tho local war memorial. Tiio committee, which met yesterday, was tho one appointed by a meeting of citizens, and charged with tho duty of carrying out the decision of that meetin"' to erect a Hall of Memories as the wiTr memorial, ike Mayor, Dr. Thacker, presided, and there was an attendance of twenty. A telegram wa3 read from, the president "and secretary of the Chnstr church branch of the Returned Soldiers' Association, regretting their inability to attend, and stating the retiirnucl soldiers stood solidly their previous decision for a Ha. 1 1 ot Memories. _ , A preliminary point was raised by the Mayor. '•There is the question, ' he yuid ■"whether we snould have the Press or not. Tho Press is not very discerning in tho remarks it makes. There aro two rival institutions going at tho present moment, and I think perhaps the best way would be for the Press to receive a report from us. They have proved they cannot report a meeting sufficiently well Three inemoers of the committee at this stage jumped up to move that the representatives of tho Press bo allowed to remain. "I think your remarks are most uncalled for," declared Mr J. Pctherick, "and I take strong exception to them." The Mayor: I will prove that they are not uncalled for. The motion for tho admission of the Press was carricd unanimously. The Mayor.then gave a statement. The returned soldicrs ; ho said, stood by their original _ decision for a nonutilitiirian memorial, and one which would enshrine the names of those who had gone West. Tho War Memorial Committee had arrangements mado to launch a scheme for subscriptions, and the organiser was ready to go forward. Since the last meeting there had been a docided turn round. A year ago when it was originally suggested to have a memorial similar to what was now dcnired by the Gould Column Committee, the proposal was ridiculed by "The Press," but they had come round since then. The former editor of "The Press" now suggested that if tho names of tho dead soldiers could not bo in-

scribed at the base of the column, then they cauld be placed on tablets in the Provincial Council Chamber. That proposal was tried out by the committee, and tho soldiers considered the Provincial Council Chamber wes not suitable.

It was an old relic and out of date

"The Press'' ignored the suggestion a year ago, yot wanted it new. The Gould Committee desired to have its column in the Square, irrespective of tho tram shelter or the decision of the Council, but since tho last meeting lie gathered that that committee would accept another suitable site if it could be fennd. The Hall of Memories hnd been ridiculed in the papers, and made out to bo a museum, a loungo room, or a smoking room. "I ask Mr PeLherick if that is_ fair comment. A Hall of Memories is a holy nlace, not a plar e for smoking and dancing, as 'The Press' has suggested. If "that is failcomment I don't know what fair comment is. The Editor of 'The Press' was invited to join the committee, and sent apologies for absence, and then said ho had never been invited. We want fair treatment."

Continuing, Dr. Thacker paid the Gould Committee had now swuiin - rouiid and ho thought by a little coneiliatioi'i tho Gould scheme and the Hall of Memories could bo made to coincide. As far as tho Bridge of Remembrance was concerned, he thought that could be carried through with tho other two conjoined. Ho thought tho bridge was a beautiful idea, but the 'ma jurity carried the Hall of Memories, but with conciliation shown now, 'lie thought they could carry out a combined scheme. Mr Petherick (to the Mayor): As you ask me what I think about it, I would like to give my opinion. You think we might be allowed to come in with the Gould scheme, as you t.erm it. You also think that the' bridge scheme might bo adopted. In fact, you aro for almost everything except what we are hero for. When the column was first proposed you yourself said it would be suitable only for the national memorial in. Wellington, and now you think we might mergo tho .Hall of Memories in the Column.

Tho Mayor: Not me, tho soldiers, Mr Petherick: Not tile soldiers.

The.Mayor: I stand staunchly by the soldiers 'every time.

The Rev. rf. La wry said it looked as if the committee was in a peculiar position. After the last meeting, when crory_ attempt at conciliation and combination was made, members of the committee had gono outside-and advocated proposals quite contrary to the decision of t-ho committee, and thrown themselves heart and soul into the work of other committees. It seemed a strange thing that pebplo could bo on committees opposed to one another, and he did not seo how they 'could be true to both

l>r. Thicker: I think it is quite a right- thing to dq. Tho secretary summoned every member of , tho War Memorial Executive.

Mr Lawry said if the visit of tlic Prince of Wales and other circumstances were sufficient to suspend the efforts of the War Memorial Committee, ho would havo thought the other committees would havo been nffcctcd similarly, but apparently it was not so. The other committees went ahead, and the War Memorial Committee was standing bv and looking on while the other people were pushing their proposals and getting in subscriptions. "We are landed in an unfortunate position," added Mr Lawry. "We are not hero to dis<u=s the other committees, and we have either to do our own work or disband." Mr Knight said tho committee should carry out the duty assigned it. by tho meeting of citizens. He moved : "That this committee proceed with the erection of a Hall of Memories as a war memorial.'»

Mr Petherick, who seconded the motion, asked if that was not already the position.

The Mayor replied it was. Mr J. A. Flesher said a meeting was held some weeks back to arrange for a canvass, but he did not think anything further had been done since then. The whole complexion of the case had completely altered in the last two or thrco weeks. It would be beating the ojr to try and collect funds for a third scheme when there were already two before the public, each securing a fair amount of support. If the committee could not see its way to carry out tho decision of the public meeting, then it saouid resign. There was not the shgntesfc hope of success in carrying out tnu decision of that meeting. An eniT OUr be made to bring together the different- organisations to decide on something wiiich would meet with fairly general approval. Dr. Chilton said that so long as members of the committee decided they must have a particular site or a particular memorial, and nothing else, then he saw no hoi>e for a solution of the present difficulty. It seemed to him that what the soldiers wanted might well be combined with the Gould Committee's proposal. The best plan would to invite small committees from the other two bodies to meet a committee •rem the War Memorial Executive to see if some common action could not be agreed on.

Mr McCallum said that, some consideration should bo given to tho wishes of the soldiers. Ovec 000 soldiers at

the annu.il meeting of the Returned Soldiers' Association unanimously upheld the Hall of Memories as the memorial. That wish should bo given some consideration. The main points, so far as the soldiers were concerned, were that the memorial should be of a non-utilitarian nature, and should contain n permanent rocorcl of tho iinnics of the fallen. Ho thought that some compromise might he come to "with "the Gould Committee, He did not; think it was the right thing for the other two committees to get going while the official Citizens' Comrruttee_ stayed their activities during tho visit of the Prince of Wales. , _ . Mr Flesher asked if the Returned Soldiers' Association would support a memorial arch over the \ ictoria street bridge. Mr McCallum said that was a new scheme which had not been considered. Mr A. F. Cnrev said the citv would make itself a laughing-stock if it went ahead with three' schemes. The committee might invite designs for a meraorinl which wntild with the wishes of the Returned Soldiers Association and the other committees. Mr Pctherick asked if the siib-cnm-mittee appointed to carry out_ the Hall of Memories scheme had resigned, or were afraid the public would not support them. Tho sub-eommittce should at least make an attempt to see if the authorised scheme found support as well as other schemes which had been foisted on the public. . air G. Hutchison said ho desired compromise, but, failing that, he considered the Bridge of Remembrance Committee were justified in gomg ahead. He regretted that the soldiers barred the bridge as being utilitarian, for that attitude made compromise difficult. , Mr J. Wyn Inrin moved: That a sub-committee of this committee be appointed to meet sub-committees from the other two committees, with a view to socuring unanimity and harmony in tho matter of the war memorial." Unless something were adopted which would meet with general approval, he feared that no memorial would be erected at all.

On the suggestion of Dt. Chilton, who seconded the motion, tho reading was altered as follows: "That the Column Committee and the Bridge Committeo be asked to send three delegates each to meet three delegates from the WarMemorial Committee, with a view to arriving at some unanimity." Air H. J. Ranger, who supported the motion, said it seemed _ impossible for a public meeting to arrivo at any unanimous decision.

Mr Pctherick opposed the motion on the ground that the matter had been referred to a sub-committee, which so far had done nothing. It was the duty of the committee to go to the public on the official proposal for a Ball <;f Memories. The motion was put and carried by 12 votes to 5. The members of the committee appointed were Dr. Chilton, Mr N. B. MeCallum, and Sir A. F. Carey, with the Mayor as chairman. <j'n the motion of Mr Carey, seconded by Mr McCallum, it was decided to invito designs for a suitable form, of w.c.r memorial. The conference was fixed for Tuesday at 3.30 p.m., the report to come before the executive committee again at 4 p.m. on Friday. THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE COLUMN. Mr Gould supplies us with the following list of additional contributions to tho fund for the erection in Cathedral square of a war memorial in the form of a column: — £ s. d. Amount previously acknowledged .... . ...2044 16 0 Additional contributions — T. F. Gibson ... ... . 25 0 0 Nicholas McNally ... 5 0 0 ( Miss S. H. Ballantyne ... 50 0 u Miss A. J. Ballantyne ... 50 0 0 Beath and Co., Ltd. ... 100 0 0 C.O. ... ... ... 2 0 0 C. I>. Fox ... - ... 10 0 i Dean Harper ... ... 5 0 0 A. R.- Fleming ... _ ... 25 0 0 Mr and Mrs J. Morrison ... 3 .•> Geo. lianmer ... ... 20 0 0 H. H. l'ittman ... ... 10 0 0 Mrs Georgina Boys '... 3 0 0 C. G. McKellar ... ... 10 0 < Mrs Percy Cox • 110 Miss Cox ... ... 2 2 0, Mr and Mrs F. H. Brittan o 0 0 -Jas. Stnekhouso ... ... 10 0 0 L. C. Gardner ... ... 2.5 0 0 A. A. M. Melvellar ... 2o 0 0 Mrs 11. B. Wilkin ... 3 0 0 Jessie B. Wilkin ... ... 2 0 v Mrs J. S. Sime ... ... 10 0 0 Mrs H. B. Johnstone ... 25 0 0 Mr and Mrs A. Wells Newton ... ... ... 2. 2 0 We have received £10 towards the fund, from Miss L. E. Cholmondeley, Cash mere Hills. Subscriptions may bo addressed to the lion, treasurer, "Mr 11. M. Macdonald, 118 Hereford street. Any supporters of the Column proposal who may find it convenient to do So may send their contributions to the Editor of "The Press," who will transmit them to the hon. treasurer. TO TUB EDITOR OK "THE TRESS." Sir, —May I by your courtesy, and through the medium of "The Press,'' say a few words to the Christchurch jjublic of moderate means, than whom no more patriotic and gelierous public exists in the British Empire? What I want to say is this: I know there are thousands of them who are in full sympathy with tho desire to honour the < memory of our fallen soldiers by a dignified and permanent memorial in tho centre of tho town. I believe that thoy would gladly show their sympathy by small subscriptions, according to their means, but they refrain from doing so becauso their modesty shrinks from seeing their names appear among the bigger guns which have up to now been booming. Now, it is upon inese small subscriptions that the ultimate success or failure of our effort must depend, and they have a value far beyond mere £ s. cL, for this reason, that unless we can show that popular opinion is behind us, we may fail to get the site wo have set our hearts upon, even when wo have got the 'money. This being my summing-Up of the position, 1 purpose some day next week asking the papers to publish, a list of subscriptions confined to sums of £1 and under, and small contributions will be held back until then -with that object. I therefore earnestly ask all sympathisers to come to light before Tuesday next. The contributions of those who prefer to subscribe anonymously will be acknowledged under initials only.—Yours, etc., GEORGE GOULD. June 4th.

At a meeting of the Bridge of Remembrance Committee on Wednesday, tlie hon. secretary reported that Mr J. Mannings had submitted two designs for the bridge and arch. The *' , treasurer » Mr A. C. Reed, reported that donations to date amounted to close upon £2000, and that a very large number of firms were placing tho matter before their directors.