WAR MEMORIAL.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20495, 14 March 1932, Page 15

WAR MEMORIAL.

SITE IN CATHEDRAL GROUNDS. NEW DESIGN SUGGESTED. INTERESTING CORRESPONDENCE The Cathedral Chapter has agreed to permit the Christchurch War Memorial to be erected in the Cathedral grounds. The area allotted is on the northern edge of the grounds opposite the north porch, bordered by the curved footpath on one side and on the other by a line drawn in continuation of the south side of Warner's Hotel building. The Chapter, however, does not accept the design of the memorial as agreed upon by the War Memorial Committee—in which the central idea waß the recumbent figure of a sleeping soldier. It is suggested that a cross should be the central feature of the whole monument. The following correspondence haa passed between Mr George Gould, chairman of the War Memorial Committee, and the Hcv. Canon J. de B. Galwey, secrotary to the Cathedral Chapter. Mr Gould's Letter. The meeting between members of the War Memorial Committee and tho Cathedral Chapter last week should not be considered abortive if it served to Bhow how much easier it is to be critical than constructive when attempting to find a suitable form of memorial for a sito which precludes anything suggestive of jingoism. Agreement was found that the edifice should be of a height approximate to that of the Godley Statue, and the requirement that some form of cross should bo embodied presents no difficulty. My contention that the sum of money available pointed to some form of statuary as the chief feature of the memorial was not challenged, and I see no reason why a sum up to £4OOO should not be expended in this way. This should place statuary of the highest merit within our reach. Keeping in view the limitations of the site alluded to, I think the memorial should be an emblem of peace rather than of war, while at the same time i serving as a reminder of the sacrifices j the war entailed. This being my lino I of thought I suggest that the central feature in the memorial should be that of a soldier sleeping in the open with his equipment beside him on the ground level, and watched over by & winged female figure similar to that of the Colchester Memorial symbolising peace. Our finance should permit us also to provide two soldier figures standing on either side, I suggest in an attitude of reverence. Upon the base of the monument there would be room for various, inscriptions, but amongst them and * close to the ' sleeping figure I should like to place the wordst "Peace after Strife." Some divergence of opinion was | shown as to the possibility of portraying a sleeping soldier which would not be mistaken for a dead soldier. I do not admit the difficulty but consider the matter unimportant provided the figure expresses ease and repose. There should be no difficulty in obtaining a photograph of a living soldier posing in a natural and comfortable attitude. If a precedent is required for the recumbent figure it is supplied in one of the figures of the Boyal Artillery Memorial at Hyde Park gate. If you can make any suggestions either amending or original, conveying a more appropriate meaning or interpretation, I hope you will do so. If you find yourself in general agreement I shall also be obliged if you would let I consulted Mr Cuming, as directed, me know. and] have obtained from him a number of pictures which should be of value when our architects are bringing our ideas into concrete shape. I earnestly ask your help in bringing to a happy conclusion an effort to do honour to our fallen sons, which has engaged me now for over eleven years. The Chapter's Reply. I have to advise you that the Cathedral Chapter had before it at its, meeting yesterday the matter of the proposed memorial in the Cathedral grounds, and that it adopted the following communication, which I was instructed to convey to you:— (1) The Chapter regrets that it cannot see its way to approve of the general suggestions made ion behalf of the Cathedral Square Memorial Committee by Mr G. Gould, on the following grounds:— (a) It thinks that it would be unsuitable to the position of the pro* posed memorial that there should be anything in the way of a wall or screen dn the south side, thus presenting more or less of a blank as- ' pect in the direction of the Cathedral; and oh the other hand it is strongly of the opinion that the memorial should be of such design that the main portions would be equally visible all round, and that it would present an equally artistic view from every side. (b) The Chapter considers that the recumbent figure of a soldier, while suggestive of repose and of peace, would quite fail to give any suggestion of effort, high purpose, and endeavour, self-sacrifice, achievement, or attainment; and that combined, as suggested, with figures of soldiers with bowed heads the effect, while possibly reverential, would be on the whole sad and quite uninspiring. (c) The Chapter considers that a Cross should not merely be embodied in some way in the design, or in a perhaps more or less subordinate position, but that it should be the central feature of tho whole monument; both as being most suitable to the Situation in the Cathedral grounds, and as representing especially self-sacrifice and attainment. For these reasons the Chapter feels that it could not approve of a monument on the general design suggested, or as generally indicated by the photograph on page 1029 of "Beautiful Britain." (2) The Chapter recognises that it is not in any way its place or duty to devise or put forward a design for the memorial. But, as its full consent will be necessary for whatever design may be put forward, it feels : that at this stage the most helpful i thing it can do will be to indicate the general lines upon which, as at present advised, it will "be prepared i to give its final consent; so that the.

Memorial Committee may be as far as possible aware as to the direction in which it would be desirable for it to work. In doing this the Chapter does not in any way pledge its approval beforehand to the form or design or any proposal that may be ultimately submitted on these general lines; nor to the details thereof. No final approval of tho whole, nor of details, can bo given until the full design is submitted, and probably also more or less detailed drawings of the component parts. With the above object in view, the Chapter desires to lay before the Memorial Committee the following statement as to its views:— (1) It is of opinion that no part of the memorial need come nearer to the Cathedral than the line marking ott the area on which building is prohibited; that is roughly a line drawn in continuation of the south side of Warner's Hotel building; which line passes approximately through the centre of the Godley Statue. As the whole space marked off by that line would probably be wider from east to west than would be needed, ana would be of an inconvenient and inartistic shape, it suggests that possibly the area to be assigned might be bounded by a curved line, of considerably sharper curve than the present boundary of the Cathedral grounds in this part. If any erection is to be made on this curved line, by way of kerb or wall, it should be quite low, so as to allow an uninterrupted view of the memorial from all sides. The memorial, and the area, would thus be centrally situated on the wing of the Cathedral grounds; that is, not nearer to the Colombo street Bide as is the present position of the Godley Statue. ft would be practically straight opposite the north porch of the Cathedral. (2) As stated above, the Cross should be tho central part of the monument, and there could well be combined with it such statuary as might be desirable or suitable, or else relief carvings; or both. The wholo should be mounted on steps or platforms of some considerable elevation; and there should probably be pavement covering the rest of tho area assigned. (3) The Chapter calls attention to the largo number of very beautiful crosses in the sections of "Boautiful Britain," kindly furnished to it by Mr Gould; especially to those on pages 1094, 1138 (top right), and 1143 (top left); also to a less degree, or as regards certain features only, to thoso on pages 1082, 1084, 1092, 1097, 1139, etc. That on page 1143 especially suggests a method of treatment with symbolic figures. Tho Chapter iB convinced that, somewhat on the lines suggested by these monuments, a very beautiful scheme could be devised, and one very suitable both to the general aim of the memorial and to the site on which it would be erected. (4) If statuary is included, the Chapter would wish that it should bo of an inspiring character; and that the main ideas should bo those of .youth, energy, high endeavour, and purpose, aspiration, sacrifice, victory (in the sense not of conquest of enemies,' but rather of achievement and attainment); and also of resurrection or immortality, and of peace. To this end it suggests that for statuary symbolic figures might be most suitable. At the same time friezes or relief carvings might well be included, showing soldiers in scenes such as those depicted on the Wellington memorial, i.e. leaving home and kindred, and leaving the work and occupations of daily life; or other suitable subjects, not including anything in the way of actual warfare. (5) With regard to an inscription or inscriptions, the Chapter has not yet considered the matter, as the nature of these would depend so much on the general scheme to bo adopted. (6) The matter of materials also has not been definitely considered; but it is obvious that both the materials and the general type of architecture must be such as would . not in any way clash or be inharmonious with those of the Cathedral building. I may add that, of course, the above is to be read in conjunction with the conditions laid down in the matter by the Diocesan Synod, of which you are already aware. » Mr Gould's Comments. On tho Chapter's offer and stipulations, Mr Gould makes the following comments} ' "It will be realised that the Chapter has set us no mean task, but we must do our best to fulfil it. "The position assigned to us on th* northernmost edge of the site is not, in my opinion, nearly so good as the present situation of the Godley Statue. I think the Memorial will be like the salt sitting on the edge of the plate. I had never intended that there should bo a screen or wall presenting a blank aspect towards the Cathedral. My intention was that the monument should face west, and that its back view would in future be screened by the plane tree now growing on the site. 'As commentary on the somewhat sweeping rejection of my proposals I would quote the words of the Prince of Wales: 'On every battle field they sleep as they,fell.' "Personally, I am quite prepared, to fall m with the mandate that the conwal feature of the Memorial shall be *'??£?*> but r foel we are faced with a difficult task in obtaining from England a design of tho Memorial and statuary complete in every detail, which may or may not meet with the approval of the Chapter."