OTAKI REST RESORT AND NATIVE MEMORIAL.

Otaki Mail, 2 June 1922, Page 3

OTAKI REST RESORT AND NATIVE MEMORIAL.

I To Hi o Editor. ! I I Sir, —1 trust that 1 have not left it too late to urge upon the promoters of the above schemes the advisability of 1 joining forces, ami so winking Otaki’s Afeiuorial one that will be worthy of our name. .1 maintain, Sir, that however imposing a stone memorial is it can never be compared for usefulness or beauty with the Peace Memorial Rest, Resort that wo arc bringing into being. Could the boys who have fallen, and whom we all honor be asked which they would prefer, 1 feel sure they would unanimously declare for a place where the tired might rest in the ‘Peace’ that they hud helped to bring. That certain of' our prominent citizens, who should know better, have taken on themselves to decry, and belittle the efforts of the Rest Resort committee J. know, but i would ask our Native friends to take a larger view and appreciate the advantages of having one peace memorial instead of two. One memorial will show that, here in one of tiie oldest white settlements on the coast both races feel that a common cans" am! sucriiice has cemented more closely the bond of union between them. The site of the Rest Resort should also commend itself to those who are working for a Native memorial. In our Main street wo have set --aside a place that for all time will 101 l out to passers-by that we hold sacred ■ the memory of those who died for us. I feel sure that the Rest Resell comi mi ttee would be only too pleased to 1 give representatives of the Natives ] seats on their eom 111 ill ee, and if the 1 Natives wish Tor a stone memorial a j place could In: found for it in the resort ( ground, but let all the memorials be to- 1 get her. 1 would suggest. Sir, that the Rest Result committee -'‘act’' at once. 1 ! call a meeting of subscribers and hand I I in their resignations. Representatives t from the Natives could be invited to 1 i be present ami my scheme or any other .1 | schemes be discussed, and if it was re- I solved to join forces a combined com- r 1 mi! tec of Natives and Lumpen ns could : | be elec I oil to “early the matter I Ihtough..'' 1 hold no brief for the 1 Rest Resort commit tee, 1 have ur i t ic- is- , , ed them unmercifully, and think they t ! are now making a mistake in going on 1 with the band rotunda instead of conI tinning to lay out the grounds', form the oval. etc. 1 have no interest other than that of a subscriber to the Rest Resort funds, and mi member nf the committer knows that 1 am writing j this. Inti 1 do desire to see a united memorial in Otaki that will be a ere- ' dit to our fuvvji.—l am. etc.. ■ One of the Onlookers that see most of ' the Game.