Returned Soldiers Demand Cenotaph

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 520, 24 November 1928, Page 13

Returned Soldiers Demand Cenotaph

SITE AT MUSEUM CITIZENS’ COMMITTEE ARRAIGNED “We want that cenotaph/ 1 is the present cry of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, which is raising • protesting voice against the modification of the memorial features at the War Memorial Museum. The association has been spurred to activity by the attitude o$ the War Memorial Fund Committee, which stated in a letter to the association that a cenotaph would be erected if funds nermitted. speaking to-day on the general situation, Mr. T. S. Miller, treasurer of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, said that the memorial features of the museum, including the cenotaph, were responsible for most of the public and private subscriptions. USE OF MEMORIAL NAME ‘•We doubt very much," said Mr. Miller, "whether the Auckland Institute could "have raised the money for the museum without having had the use of the war memorial name.” Mr. Miller went on to say that in 1923 the returned soldiers withheld their support from the project until they, received assurances concerning the memorial features. A deputation from the association met the president of tho committee at that time, and the memorial features of the museum were detailed, receiving the approval of the association. ‘We now find,” said Mr. Miller, "that „ number of these have been cut out or something smaller substituted. What we now want from the Citizens’ Committee is a definite promise that a cenotaph will be placed in the Court of Honour in front of the building. This is the least that can be done, considering the alteration to tho internal memorial features.” Finally, Mr. Miller submitted that the cenotaph had priority over the caretaker’s cottage which It was proposed to erect.