WAR MEMORIALS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 92, 13 January 1920, Page 5

WAR MEMORIALS

NEW ZEALAND'S TRIBUTE TO HER DEAD SOME ALTERNATIVES DISCUSSED (To tlio Editor.) Sir,—Tlioro nro some aspect's in the views expressed'in Tun Dominion of January 8 in nu article by -Miss Laura Bunting: which should not pass without discussion, particularly in view of the fact that the Government has granted a sun. of ,tl00,00() for a national war memorial in New Zealand. Memorial monuments to perpetuate the memory of those fallen in battle or who died as a result of suft'ering in their country's cause, may take various forms, which aro .classified in four groups hereunder: 1. A monument of a charitablo or utilitarian character which would confer a benefit on some portion of the community erecting it, for a period of years, but which is liable to become of lees meaning as time goes by. 2. A work of city development or improvement which would contain a suitable monument of & commemorative nature as a focal point. This is inclined tu become less a national memorial than a civic one expressing the sintiinents of ono city to the exclusion of another. 0. Smaller monuments in local centres which would express the united sentiments of the nation. •1. A large national memorial unconnccted with, any municipal enterprise or charitable object, erected to express tlio thankful remembrance of Me whole nation and which actually exhibits for all timo the inamo of cach man who so laid down his life. It seems after mature thought on the matter that this last means of expression is the best: for'what is more fitting than that those of one army who gi'.vo their lives to one end should bo commemorated together in ono national memortal, purely nntional «uul entirely of a memorial character? It is to Iw hoped t')nt the Government will take this view oi the subject when setting the project in motion. Location of the Memorial. ' Now, with regard to location, on which so much depends for successful treatment, it occurs to one immediately that euch a memorial should be*situated at the seat of Government, not only as being the capital but as being the most centrally situated city through which people from the length and brwulth of tlio country are more likely topass than through any ether. There is yet [inother very strong reason for selecting Wellington: it is the port from which the majority of our soldiers-sailed, and so parted, some never to return, from what they held most dear. _ But, alas 1 our capital has not improved with timo to the same extent as have the other three great ccntres of the Eominion, favoured though they have been by sounder early ideas of civic development. Our city fathers would no doubt like the national memorial devoted to the improvement of their city in accordance with the second idea of a memorial given above, and there is a temptation to diverge from the broader lines of a national scheme. But the development and improvement of this city, daily more urgent aid necessary as it becomes, is tho task of 'lis citizens, not of the nation. .Where then should this memorial be placed ? There appears no more suitable place than tho slopes of tho Town Belt on Jlount Victoria or the Tinakori Hill, raised well above and overlooking the harbour from .which so many looked foi the last time on a town of their own land. The. Design. Having outlined the general principles tho details can now be discussed. The chief principle in tho design of any morial is that it must call to memoryit must not be jilaced out of view or be insignificant in sizo'or character; it uusl even rather force its attention on the most casual observer; but yet it 6houlc bo harmonious with its surroundings ane: beautiful in its design. To fulfil tliesi requirements the monument must sui tho site.and provide sufficient contrast t< it. Also, it should be reasonably acccs fliblo for closer inspection. It is there fore manifestly impossible to say arbi trarilv that this or that form of monu mont is the most suitable without havinj special resrard to the site on which it i to be erected. A high column or ai obelisk might be suitable in a lnrge pub lie space surrounded with buildings o other monuments of less height, but in i narrow and crowded street of high build inns it would be lost. Likewise on tin side of a hill it might lose in elignity b; the comparison with the height of thi hill beyond it. The writer of the above-mentioned ar ticle asks: "Does it not seem fitting tlin in their last quiet sleep there ■ shouli stand over them the tall stone obelisl that, more than nnything else seems t symbolise the spirit triumphant risini above the field 'where death and honou meet?'" This portion of the article was n doubt intended by its author to appl; more particularly to tho .Australian bat tleficld memorials. But the principle i rather one of deciding what form th memorial should take without the slight est reference to the site A Cenotaph and Colonnade. Hnallv has to be considered wha form and what symbolism will , ade quatelv express the sentiments of thos erecting the monument. Of means c exDression there are many, but one car not think, however, tlint an obelisk, a idea of ihe Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt when used by them, covered with liiert glvphics telling of the prowess and piet of the Sovereign who boastfully erecte it, a principlo of design never employe with success by, any other nation, is fitting symbol of memory in these day: What is the sentiment which prompte these men .whose deeds we wish to coir memorate. 'and for which they laid dow their.lives? That this world (and i narticular their own land) shoulel nt be troeleVs.'i down under the heel of a aggressive military despotism, all di vourin» and unscrupulous. There is 11 snirifc of sacrifice expressed by an obelisl which seems rather a boast of tl trinmnhs of the living—and as such tl Ancient Egyptians sincerely employed i Other means of expression are to I fouiut—the memorial tower, tho unocci pied tomb, give a eligniiied conceptio with possibilities of recording name The cross expresses sacrifice of the lug est order, but appears not so fitting tho particular type of sacrifice as tl cenotauh and tho altar, but on tho fitht hand uono of those provide sufficiei soace- for the record of 17,000 names. 11 Italian Campo Santo, usually walled l or surrounded by arcades or colonnatii with niches, would Rivo most loom it such a purpose. Probably a cenotap or a L'reat altar surrounded by_ such colonnade to contain the names woul most fullv express the sentiments pr vided the site wove suitable for such trea meut.-l am. etc., GREENISH.