REMINDER OF GREAT WAR

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 455, 24 June 1937, Page 4

REMINDER OF GREAT WAR

SOUVENIR SOLD FOR SCRAP METAL German Field Gun In King Edward Park

The German field gun which for many years has been a familiar sight to visitors to King Edward Park has been sold by the Borough Council to the local'foundry and will shortly be removed. Reckoned in terms of scrap metal its value is £3. A relic of the Great War, the gun occupies a prominent position on a lawn just within the entrance gates which were erected to the memory of Lieutenant-Colonel W. G. Malone, who was killed in action at Chunak Bair, Gallipoli, on August 8, 1915. From the gateway there Is a vista of beautiful lawns dotted with shrubs and trees, of well-kept flower plots, and in such a setting this grim reminder of war days appears strangely incongruous. In case someone might have felt tempted to push the gun into the river, it is fixed to a strip of concrete. Its grey paint is scratched with names and initials of children and others, who, in spite of their years, apparently had not passed the adolescent stage.

History Unknown The question of removing the gun ivas first raised at the April meeting of the Stratford Domain Board tvhen it was decided to offer the gun to the foundry. The Mayor, Mr J. W. McMillan, considered that the gun was unsightly, and pointed out that such relics were being removed from public places all over New Zealand. Cr. C. R. Finnerty did not like to see the gun in the Park, but ho thought it had an historical aspect. None of the Board members was aware of the history of the gun, and all that was known was that ft was asked for when everybody throughout the Dominion wanted war trophies. Cr. A. H. Trotter made an original suggestion "If we sell it, the Japanese will get the metal. Let’s make history and tip it in the river,” he said. What will happen to the gun In the future is now a matter for the foundry proprietors. It may be that it will be melted down and eventually form part of useful but harmless roading or farm machinery.