MEMORIAL TO FALLEN

Chronicle (Levin), 31 October 1946, Page 6

MEMORIAL TO FALLEN

PROPOSALS IN AUCKLAND AUCKLAND, Oct. 30. Proposals for the completxon of the Auckland War Memorial Museum at a cost of about £350,000 to commemorate tlie second World War, were adopted at a meeting of about 130 representative citixens tqday. The recommendations were'pgY4of.w.ard by the Mayor, Mr. J, A. ' C, Allum, who presided over the meeting, and a- planning cbihmittee to present a definite plan of action to a Jater meeting, was appointed. Xncluded in the proposed additions was an extension of the Hall of Memories where the names of Auckland servieemen and women who gave theii lives in the second World War would be recorded in a manner as dignified as was the case of the record of the previous war. Mr. xYlium said he had learned that the existing record did not include members of the Navy and Air Porce who fell in 1914-18 and if his proposai were adopted, the omission would be rectified. _ . ^ Another part of the additions made provision for the exhibition of photographs, pictures and similar material from the second World War and a tliird section allQwed for a lecture hall and other additions needed to do the work of the institute and museum adequate iyThe view expressed by repreaentatives of ex-servicemen's organisations, wras that the £350,000 which it was proposed should be spent on the project, could be better used for the direct wel fare of ex-servicemen and their children, and sporting interests felt that a memorial to servieemen and women could be incorporated into a building which would cater for indoor sports and cultural aetivities.

The Mayor of Takapuna, Mr. J. Guiniven, asked whether Mr. Allum's action had not been "a bit autoeratie" as local authorities miglvt have their o.wn ideas for war memorials. "Most citizens with whom I have discussed the matter feei it should not be a memorial for those who took part in the war or for the war itself, bnt for those who fell," said Mr. A. Pt> Postlewuite, President of the Auckland Returned Serivees Assoeiation. The Mayor was to be commended on the proposai for a Hall of Memories but if the money were going to be raised for cultbral aspects, it would be a debasement of the sentiment behind the war memorial, He auggested consideration

should be given to the provision o.f bursaries for children of servieemen who had fallen in the war and also provision for permanently disabled and ineurably sick servieemen. Consideration could also be given to something like a V eterans ' Home. Mr. Allum said there was already sufficient money available in other quarters to cover the points made by Mr. Postlewaite and much was already being done. Support for Mr. Allum's proposals wras expressed by several speakera and it was stated that the memorial he had suggested would live through the ages. ; The memorial should be something from which the city itself would benefit, not ■only one section. It was incongruous that it was intended to spend £350,000 on the project. when there were distresaed servieemen for whom something could be done, said Mr. R. Talbot, representing the servieemen. "Where are they?" asked the Mayor. "Send them to me and I will haye something done for trheia.u When Mr. Allum's recommendation was put to the meeting it»was carried on the voiees, therb being -,a number of dissentients. The Mayor .said it -tras ' ' very substautiaUy carried. ' '