NATIONAL MEMORIAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 181, 27 April 1920, Page 7

NATIONAL MEMORIAL

ARCH IN THE BASIN RESERVE j

MOUNT COOK AS A SITE

(To the Editor.)

. Sir,—l am informed on good authority that one very prominent member of the National War Memorial Committee is advocating an arch of,-!-'victory on Foint Jerningham as the memorial.'and I would like to point out how this site is totally unsuitable for such a memorial. In the first place this is so because it would need to he extensively enlarged by reclaiming ground, from tho sea, and, secondly, it is overlooked by the bluff on which the Boseneath School is built. This bluff would dwarf any memorial on such a site, and viewed from, the harbour it would look insignificant, as the only background would be a series of wooden houses. Thirdly, and most important of all, there would be no vista 'from any direction, to..view the memorial from. If an arch of vie- • toiy was decided on, it is Absolutely essential that it should be placed in such a position that there would be an avenue or processional way leading up to it. I would like to suggest to tho committee that they study what other nations have done in the past with their war memorials, particularly Franae, who probably leads the world with her memTake, for instance, the Arches of Triumph inj Paris. Without their processional roads their beauty and charm would be lost.

The only , streets of. sufficient width' suitable for .such a monument are Kent Terrace and Cambridge Terrace. I understand it is the City Council's intention sooner or later to take the trams through the Basin Reserve; Why not place the Arch l of Victory in the-centre of the Bnsin? Then the trams from town would proceed up Kent Terrace, and round the arch on the one-side, and tlioso to town' round the other side of the arch and down Cambridge Terrace. It would be necessary to widen the foot of Adelaide Eoad in ; order to open up the monument at that end.

An avenue of trees could-be started at Courtenay Place, and would lead up to the monument, and a short avenue could bo planted on the southern 6ide. 'If Hie trees were planted by the parents of fallen soldiers they could serve as individual monuments. Surely it is not necessary to poht out what a fine vista would be obtained looking up the avenue and terminating in the monument, and al6o what a good piece of town planning the scheme becomes. There would also he sufficient space round the monument for Anzac memorial services and similar occasions.

Another site that has great advantages is the Mount Cook one, which, in my ■humble opinion, is not so suitable for an arch or a building. It would be necessary to cut. a wide Toad through; between Taranaki and Tory Streets, which has, I believe, been proposed' before. when the treatment of this site .was under consideration, and was found to be practical. I would suggest that the building should be placed on the level of the present barracks with a wide flight of steps from the level of Buckle ■ Street leading up to it which would give it dignity and strength. The building' should have a high dome giving to it great dignity, and just imagine how. it would dominate the whole city. It would be the first thing people arriving by train or steamer would see, and a domed, building suitably treated on such a site would denote what it _was, namely, a memorial. Although, .Sir, yu think a.n Art gallery is not a suitable memorial, I think there are many points in- its favour. Prom an architectural point of view it is the one building you can give a monumental effect to., on account of its blank wall surfaces. The Government already have 'a number of war pictures, and as time goes-on more will be painted dealing with episodes in the great war, which will be acmiired by the Government or private individuals who will give them to the nation.* If there was a spacious domed hall it ■could be treated in several different ways. An, unknown soldier could be . buried •therein, 'and the tomb placed in an area below the main floor level, and every person viewing it would, have to bend his or her licnd. This idea was carried out in the Tnvalide6 in Paris with Napoleon's tomb. There eculd be a large monument opposite the main entrance and "the wall spaces adjoining suitably treated to enhance the monument. And these are only two suggestions, there being many others for the treatment of the memorial hall.

The war galleries could open out of this central hall, and the other Ralleiies open out of . them so ns to give prominonce to the.memorial element of the building.

I know of at least two towns in England where this typo of memorial is beinpr erected, and I think it should receive fnvouvnble consideration for New Zealand. This matter is so important to. the future welfare of the children, flf this country, and particularly to Wellington, that the_ question of sito and tho monument suitable for it should receive jrreat consideration and not be settied without duo thought and discussion. —I am, etc., W. GRAY YOUNG. ; Wellington, April 26, 1920.

ART GALLERY PROJECT

(To the Editor'h

Sir,—ln your leader of Saturday you advancS certain objections to the erection of a national art gallery as a y.ar memorial, the main objection being that an art gallery might be said to servo some purpose other than a memorial, and your contention is that that other purpose would bo utilitarian' in character.' v

It is somewhat disconcerting to tho council of the academy nt this time to find an art' gallery described as utilitarian, for in tho past had we been able to show that art was utilitarian, and that there was money in it we should doubtless have had a national art gallery long ore this. The establishment of a national art gallery marks a distinct stage in the evolution of a country, and we claim that nothing could be more fitting than that it should be coincident with tho heralding of a victorious neace. We feel that a rejection of the academy's proposal will, having regard to present • conditions, inflict a hurt upon this country from which it may never fully recover. When we think of the sacrifices mado for the country, that would, to say the least of it) bo most regrettable. The council of the academy are whole-heartedly in accord with .the view expressed \bv you that "the art of a nation wlucn has become insensible to. the inspiration of such a record of past glory and achievement will, at best, uc decadent." It is the sincere desire of tho academy that art shall emphasise and keep for ever green the glory of that record. That desire indeed is at the root of our advocacy of a national art gallery as a. memorial. Mr. Gray Young, architect, of Wellington, informs mo that art galleries are now being erected in England as war memorials, and that the designs are admirably adapted for such a purpose. It is to bo hoped that Mr. Young will see his way to submit details to tho Memorial Committee.

Ilud this country been engaged in a war of ooiinuest or ip fighting for the mere love of fighting, the probability is that wa should have been well satisfied" with an arch of triumph or some such other monument, as a memorial, but as our soldiers went forth to battle for freedom, for civilisation,,and for a' lasting peaoe, a national art callery might well bo chosen as a symbol of thoiv groat and glorious victory. In conclusion. I have to tlmnk you for having published in full the academy's appeal to . the War Memorial Committee. Wo arc pleased to feel that you have given some consideration to the proposal and that, you at least have not held it up to ridicule as 6ome few of its present supporters woro inclined to do (it the outset.—l am, etc.,. H. M. '.GORE, , -Secretary. P.S.—I greatly regret that Mr. Slimier Weston, tno president of the academy, is at present away from Now, Zealand and cannot therefore address you on. this question. Before leaving, lib expressed the view most strongly that 110 form of memorial oould equal'that of. a national art gallery—H.M.G,