WESTLAND WAD MEMORIAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 April 1920, Page 2

WESTLAND WAD MEMORIAL.

The fund is increasing but slpwly the

1 past day or two, but in the remaining three days should advance considerably. ; The total at present is £647 still some way below the half-way harrier. There remains £853 to he collected in the next three days, if the £ISOO » to be found in time for the laying of the foundation stone on Sunday at noon. No doubt the country lists to come in from now on will Swell tho total considerably. Some districts have been making good reports, but others are poor comparatively for the size and industry of the locality. The folk should bear ‘in mind .that this is .an occasion for special gratitude and those in the position should measure their contributions not in pence, but pounds. A further list of the Westland roll of honour will he circulated to-morrow. This impressive record contains now almost 150 names of district men who laid down their lives in the Great Wai. •They lie buried in far off lands where relatives here can do nought to mark their resting place. The Westland memorial will take the place of the personal headstone, and the record of names on the Stone of Bememhianee will call to mind for all time the deeds done so noibly in the flesh by those, alias, now not with us. If the people hut get the right atmosphere about them as to the need foi the memorial to the fallen and to the justice to be, done the memory of those who arh now no more the proper spirit will be displayed, and the fund will materialise very quickly. The epitaph it is proposed to carve upon the pillar bearing the names' of the fallen itself hears a message which should penetrate every heart and mind which comes to a. realisation of what “the supreme sacrifice”, as is so often said and written, really means to us all individually : , “Wo lie dead in many lands, so that You may live here m peace.” Those are impressive words at once a. message and .a (command. They should excito us to do our duty so that the splendid sacrifice made will not he lightly thought of or eniptyly passed over. • It was a. sacrifice which had a real and personal interest to our own welfare and well-being, and without it to-day the Empire would not stand where ‘ she does, noy would the folk bo going about their everyday, duties as freely as they do. The war was won by sacrifice and the great est sacrifice of a)l was by those who gave up their lives. Can we Jo too much to honor and rever Iheir memory for all time? The answer to that question should ho the. motive guiding us all in our contributions to the Memorial Fund.