“A Perfect Knight”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 275, 10 February 1928, Page 9

“A Perfect Knight”

TRIBUTES TO EARL HAIG ERECTION OF MONUMENT By Cable.—Press Association. — Copyright. Reed. 11.45 a.m. LONDON, Thursday. The House of Commons, in committee, agred to Mr. Baldwin’s motion that the King be asked to direct that a monument be erected at the public charge to the memory of the late Earl Haig. The Prime Minister’s resolution suggested an inscription expressing the admiration of the House for the Field Marshal’s illustrious career and its gratitude for his grea{ services to the State. He said that the cost of such a monument varied from £5,000 to £7,000. It was too early as yet to decide the ultimate place of any statesmen or soldier in the World War, but Earl Haig, by common consent, was one of the great figures. His country recognised in him what they value most in a man—steadfastness and absolute and complete integrity. He was a man to whom a mean thought or a mean act was impossible. He was loyal to everybody in his army and, what was even more difficult, loyal to the civil governing power. Earl Haig’s humble spirit made itself felt throughout the British Army and was no small factor In the morale of these great forces. "He was one of the few men I would choose as worthy to be laid by Sir Walter Scott,” said Mr. Baldwin. “He was indeed a perfect gentleman and knjght. “We now want a simple monument, at which the men of the British Legion can lay their poppies and, showing it to their children, say, ‘There he is.’ ” HAIG’S NOBLEST BATTLE The Leader of the Labour Party, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, said that to some people war was such a terrible calamity that a man who was associated with it tended to become a symbol of battle and bloodshed. “As a consequence we have viewed the names of great soldiers in a false perspective. In the latter part of his life Earl Haig revealed the whole man to us. “No ex-soldier or widow or orphan of a dead soldier failed to find the way to Earl Haig’s heart. He fought many battles, but none more nobly than this last, on behalf of suffering humanity.” Mr. MacDonald expressed regret that the Government’s proposal took the form of a marble memorial instead of honouring Earl Haig by caring for the ex-servicemen, whom he had cared for. He moved as an amendment that a Select Committee be set up to inquire into the best method of honouring Earl Haig’s memory. The amendment was lost.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Winston Churchill, in reply to a question, said that he had no legal authority to remit the death duties in respect to Earl Haig’s war gratuity.— A. and N.Z.-Sun.