NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2033, 25 September 1919, Page 3

NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL.

A GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL.

“Twice in the last live years,” said Sir James Allen in the House on Tuesday, “it has fallen to my lot to deliver the Financial Statement*— namely, on the 6th August, 1914,

ad to-day.” Many anxious mo-

ments have passed during the interval, but we never lost confidence in the justice of our cause and the ultimate success of our arms. The Statement made this day is the-first delivered since the signing of Peace, and the occasion jseems opportune to place on record the fact that this country fulfilled all its obligations to the Motherland and never failed

to supply its own Expeditionary Force with adequate support right up to the signing of the armistice. It may fairly be claimed that the

assurance of this practical sympathy and support did much to assist our soldiers in securing the splendid reputation which they have earned, and Avhicli avc may rightly look upon as one of the most valuable assets ihis country possesses. But this has not been achieve'.! Avithout serious Joss, serious not alone on account of' the sad hearts of relates and friends avlio mourn the dead, but. also because it will be very dillicult to replace the loss of those who, had they been spared to return to their homes, would have been associated with us noAV, and later on Avould have taken our place in endeavouring to solve the many complex problems which the country is being called upon to deal Avith. But Ave can and ought to -do something to perpetuate the memory of the men and women avlio gave their Jives for

m benetit of those of us avlio remit! to share in the blessings to be

enjoyed from what we hope may prove to ho a lasting peace. For this purpose it is proposed to set aside this sesskut not less than £IOO,OOO to erect a national memorial,, designed’and carried out by the best talent available, which will perpetuate for all time the memory of those who with self-sacrificing devotion gave their lives to save the Empire, and be a constant reminder that there is no nobler duly than to sacrifice self in the service of ail.