MEMORIAL TO MR MASSEY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18408, 15 June 1925, Page 13

MEMORIAL TO MR MASSEY.

TO TWt EDITOR 0? "THE PMSS." Sir, —For some time past I have read in English newspapers odds and ends about "Toe H," but I never quite grasped what "Toe H" was. In Saturday's,"Press" I read that the founder of "Toe H" was going to talk about it at St. Mary's Church, Merivale, on Sunday evening, so I went along to near what ho had to say. From a very interesting address. I discovered that "Toe ll ,r was nothing less than the-ideal memorial to the soldiers who fell in the late war. It is a memorial ot self-sacrifice and service: much more difficult to collect than money. I was tinning it over in my mind and en Tuesday morning when I opened mv "Press" I read that a letter had bceii read at the meeting of the City Council the previous evening, from SirFrancis Bell, suggesting that subscriptions, bo invited for tho purpose of erecting a monument on Mr Massev's tomb at Point Jfafs'well, and to commemorate by statue or other memorial in - the Parliamentary grounds, his name and public services. Also for the purpose,- if sufficiont funds were available, to plant and beautify the area set apart at Point' Halsw'ell, as Mr Massey's burial ground. After hearing about "Toe II" a monument seems a horribly inadequate memorial. What is the use of it? As far as one can s;e, its only use is to serve as a signpost to draw attention to the place where our great Prime Minister has been laid to rest, A large sum of money would be required to put it up and, it seems to me, that.a very simple cross would answer that»purpose just as-well. It is a symbol of self-sacrifice and service and the late Mr Masscy earned the right to such a symbol if any man did. Beautify, his resting placa by all means, but I would suggest that the rest of. the money subscribed, which surely will be a very big sum, should be used for the purpose of starting a fund called "The Massey Memorial Fund" to be invested and the income ' used for chanty. I feel sure our late . Premier would much sooner be:remembered in.this way. In the years to come, a monument will mean nothing to tho majority of folk, but the poor and needy who will benefit by'such'-a; memorial as I suggest are cv£-r with us and therefore the name or the Into TV. F. Massey would never die. I know nothing; about tho late Mr Hyman Marks, but T am very sure his name will "never b.e forgotten: there is never a call for help for any good cause but that, a .subscription or donation is forthcoming from the "Hyman Marks Trust."

I feci: very diffident about seuding this letter for .'publication, first because I feel it ought to be accompanied by, a substantial cheque and I have never even ' possessed a "cheque- book! Secondly I, remember the unseemly discussions there have., been ■, about previous memorials and dread to ..be the. means of starring another and thirdly I fyave a horror of publicity and eelf-advertise-menX but this matter has been so constantly'in my mind-and lam hoping thai'there may be others!who fee! as I do about it, and that they will help on the suggestion. As I am a'person of. nonpublic importance, and for the reason above-stated, I. will not sign my name; to this lotter, but willlet it come from—Yours, • etc. ■"-■ .-v. ■■/- SPARROW. ■Christ-church,;, June 11th, 1925.