The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1920. A FITTING MEMORIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1920. A FITTING MEMORIAL.

The valuable services rendered by the late Mayor of New Plymouth. (Mr. James Clarke), and the tragic event which brought about his death, have caused a movement to be initiated for establishing a fitting memorial of his good work on behalf of his fellow citizens. The spirit which has prompted this practical recognition of the self-sacrificing and whole-hearted devotion of the late Mayor to promoting the best interests of the borough and its 'people is alike worthy of the citizens and of him in whose honor the memorial is intended to bear perpetual testimony. The late Mr. Clarke was above all things practical, sympathetic and humane. No more convincing evidence of this can be found than the active part both he and Mrs. Clarke took in the initiation and fostering of the project to provide a suitable building—either by purchase or construction —as a hostel for girls working in the town, but having no homes of their own, and he was particularly keen that the hostel should be opened as free of debt as possible. The realisation of these efforts would seem to be the most fitting memorial the citizens could provide, for it would not only supply an urgent need, but would be a most appropriate and enduring memento of the late Mayor's activities in leaving the town better than he found it, while it would be of infinite service to a most deserving class of the community. It is gratifying to find that the movement has been launched spontaneously and with every desire to do honor to one who sacrificed much during his municipal career. The nature of the memorial should appeal convincingly to all the citizens, while its association with the name of the late Mayor should act as a powerful stimulus in the raising of the money required to open the building free of debt. "We feel sure the townspeople will esteem it a pleasure as well as a privilege to contribute to the cost of this appropriate memorial, and thus carry to fruition the good work initiated by Mr. Clarke, the closing years of whose active life were devoted to the service of the citizens. Much more could be said, but there is no need to do more than express the hope that the townspeople will be unanimous in their desire to carry out the proposed memorial.