THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1929. THE UNEMPLOYMENT SCHEME.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5435, 14 June 1929, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JUNE 14, 1929. THE UNEMPLOYMENT SCHEME.

The proposed scheme ofr the relief of unemployment in Paeroa as formulated by the Paeroa Borough Council is worthy of deep consideration and wholehearted support from the whole of the community ; and, individually givep deep thought, there is no doubt that wholehearted support will follow, for apparently it is the best and most suitable scheme that could be devised to alleviate unemployment within the borough. The proposal was not one hurriedly arranged. Responsible men, after a considerable amount of time and thought devoted to the question, during which time the whole matter was thoroughly, calmly, and systematically gone into, set down a table of concrete objects and submitted them to the public for approval or otherwise. The meeting last week approved* of them in no uncertain manner, and so expressed by their affirmative answer their faith in the producers of the splendid scheme. Now that the whole subject has been so successfully launched the community should unreservedly support it in every way possible. At this juncture it may perhaps seem rather out of place to venture a little suggestive criticism, but from opinions expressed the only proposal that does not quite meet with the united approval of everyone is the War Memorial. Ideas seem to differ to a great extent as to what form it should take, and there is apparently a considerable section of the public who think that, more in line with modern thought, a memorial should be erected that would serve some useful purpose for the living as well as commemorate the dead. It is easier to honour the dead than to do justice to the living. However it is not the intention of the “Hauraki Plains Gazette” to do anything that .might in any way retard a scheme that is so apparently the best possible one under the circumstances. But there is one thing in connection with a cenotaph war memorial that should not occur. If it is to be a replica of the original one in Whitehall, as suggested, it should be an exact replica, not one with the addition of a cross that has spoilt so many of the copies. It must be borne in mind that a great proportion—more than the. average person has ken of —of the men who fought and died for the Empire were net Christians. Christians, Buddists, Mohammedans, Parsecs, Shintc.ists, Taoists, Atheists, Pagans, etc., alike fell in Britain’s cause. The cross is a Christian symbol, and as such should not be placed on a cenotaph commemorating the dead of other religions as well, for although it can quite correctly be said that very few of the New Zealanders who died were not Christians, there were some, and some also from this district, who were not. They should be honoured just as much as their Christian brothers. The absence of a cross on the London Cenotaph signifies respect to the religions of all those brave men whose hero’c and unselfish deaths it is a symbol of.