SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2878, 16 September 1916, Page 11

SOLDIERS' MEMORIAL

' A CLUB PROPOSED . .ESTIMATED COST £18,000 A proposal-to erect a social club for returned soldiers as a memorial , to those who.havo fallen 011 active service, was the subject of a meeting; convened by tho New Zealand Natives' Association last evening. Mr. Chas. M'lntyro, secretary of the association, presided over a- fair attendance of supporters of tlie, proposal. The Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister of Railways), and Mr. H. M'Kenzic were present, and apologies for absence were received from the Hon. A. L. Herdnian (AttorneyGeneral) and Mr. J. P. Luke (Mayor). In outlining the scheme Mr. M'lntyro sa-id that tlio association had the optign of tho purchase of a section of land with a Gift, frontage to Majoribanks Street, and a depth of 117 ft., running parallel to Roxburgh Street. The cost would be £30 a foot, or nearly £2000 for the .wliolo.. The building, ono of, a basement and twostories, to bo built of red brick, was estimated to cost £12,000, and the furnishings an extra £iOOO. Advertising, expenses, and the raising of capital, etc.,- would need about'£2ooo, so the total cost, wheri completed, would bo -£18,000. < A contractor had; said that 360,000 bricks .would bo needed for the building, and the executivo of tho association, Mr. M'lntyro said, had thought of "selling the 360,000 bricks" at one ■shilling each. This would bring in the sum required. 1 Ho was of the opinion that tho school children in the Wellington district' should bo asked to assist, and that the namo and address of all donors should bo entered in a register to be kept at tlio club. Should tho collections privately, and at the ■sohools not-be as successful as is expected, then the ..holding of a yueen •Carnival for a week at Christmas •would bo considered. The association would endeavour to carry tho schemo to'a successful conclusion, and if, after collections and tho .carnival they had failed to raiso tho sum required, lie said that tho association would mako ■an effort to take "Dr. Bill," tho comedy they aro staging shortly, on tour. With theso efforts, he thought, tho •club would bo erected. ' It had been thought that tho names of all tho men who had gone on active service, and photographs whore possiblo, should bo kept in a register at the club. This would bo a valuable record, ?ud would keep fresh 1 the valour oi those who had risked their lives. Mr. H. M'Kenzio heartily supported tho scheme, and said that such a building would bo a living monument. It would be in all ways far superior to a monument, and would, do a great amount of good. Ho would do his best to see that tho ground was paid for. The Hon. W. H. Herries said that tho club was a splendid idea, and ho would do all in his power to further tho schemo. For tho purpose of bringing it before the public lie suggested that a public meeting should be hold, and if tho 6cheme was properly, worked it would undoubtedly be a success. Mr. H. M'JSenzie proposed that tho secretary should select a cominitteo to call a public meeting. Tho motion was carried, unanimously. To show the interest that the proposal has created in the camps, Mr. M'lntyro said that' lie had been approached by so vera 1 soldiers wlio wished to mako donations. The plans of the- building were prepared' free of charge by Mr.' G. Lucas, in the basement there would be a band practice room and gymnasium; 011 tlio ground floor a social hall,'billiard room" (three tables), and reading rooms; and 011 the top floor an assembly hall with a seating capacity of' 800, "and stage. Tliero would also be a foyer, and a 10-foot promenado at the side of the building. "

"WAKE UP, ENGLAND!" l—o—:—.■ SIR JAMES CARROLL IN ENGLAND At a British gathering to tho Overseas Dominions' representatives, Sir James Carroll said: — "The war has put to the test, tho finest fibre of the .British composition. It has brought, into evidence also tho variety of Britain's spawn, of its'scattered brood, across tlio faco of tho globe. . It has testimony to a loyalty on the; part. of all which has brought them as a family into complete and close unity. It lias been said by some who are opposed to us that wo are a decadent race. Wo havo Hung the answer back. (Cheers.) It lias been said that tho overseas Dominions aro.a decadent race. Wo liavo ansjvered that question, too. (Cheers.) When one comes to consider that this Empire comprises, not fewer ■ than <130,000,000 souls, of w v hom ,only~ about 60,000,000 aro whites, one can realiso the great task which British statesmen have accomplished in guiding, in regulating, in smoothing; away tho asperities inseparable from fresh contact with unknown peoples brought into subjection. They liavo been responsible not only for maintaining British principles of government, but of promoting and advancing them through all tho corners of tho earth; and to such an extent have they succeeded that - all theso races havo acceptcd tliem with gratitude. The trouble wa6, when the war broke out, to keep them from shouldering arms., They were thirsty to bo in the battlefields .side by side with us. I am speaking of the dark races; which no other race lias treated in tlio way wo liavo treated them. Problems will arise when wo have completed our work in tho war, and those problems we can study together, and the present opportunity should not be lost. Otherwise timo will bo wasted and blood will have flowed on tho battlefields for naught. In 1901, when/tho King returned from tlio overseas Dominions,: he used a memorable' phrase, 'Wake up, England 1' England is waking now —(cheers) —and having woke up let her determine into absolute action what she thinks on tho many projects submitted to her for consideration. The world .will have to reckon with changes. Changes are inevitable, and it is for us to guide those changes and to train them' into directions compatible with the interests of tho wliolo community. Let there be no doubt that the feelings of tho overseas Dominions are in absolutc consonanco with those of Great Britain." You want tho tea tha-t gives most delicious flavour at most economical price. Tliorofore, use Desert Gold. Four Pricos —Household Blend, Is. Sd.; Family Blend, Is. 9d.; Extra Special Grades, Is. lOd. and 2s. You will ba satisfied to havo no other.—Advt. Messrs. A-. L. Wilson and i Co. advertise particulars of an eight-roomed house and largo section, Oliiro Road, which is to be sold at their rooms on Thursday next. Entries for, Messrs. Dalgety and Co.'s stock sale at'Otaki on September 10 are advertised. ■ , BRITISH PIANOS. In "Tlio pristol" showrooms aro always displayed extonsivo stocks of superb instruments by ' such uotablo British .makers as • / John Broadwood and Son?, Ltd., and William Sames, Ltd., names that stand for the highest achievements in piano construction. Easy term? when desired. Solo Agents: The Bristo' Piano Co., Ltd., Wellington—M. J Brookes, North Island Managor.—Advt.