WAR MEMORIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1921, Page 5

WAR MEMORIAL.

NEW PLYMOUTH PROPOSAL PARK OPPOSITE THE STATION. BUM OF £5OOO WANTED. A meeting held in New Plymouth last night to discuss proposals for a war memorial favored the idea of utilising tho vacant site opposite the railway station and converting it into a park, with the probable erection of a monument in the centre. _ A committee was set up to invite subscriptions and receive suggestions, and to call a meeting at a later date to finally decide the question. It was decided that the sum to be aimed at should be at least £5OOO. There was an attendance of about forty at the Soldiers’ Club in response to the Mayor’s notice calling a public meeting. In opening proceedings Mr. F. E. Wilson remarked that unfortunately the question had been delayed for some time. In the present year it was due to the fact that an effort for another object was in progress for some time, and this had not been concluded till the winter had set in, and its accompanying unfortunate financial depression. Now that they were on the commencement of a new season, however, the matter should be taken in hand and pressed to a definite conclusion, if it was ever to be done—and it would be an everlasting dis grace if they did not provide some substantial form of memorial to those who died in the war.

In explaining that he had no scheme to propose Mr. Wilson said he had been in conference with a number of persons who were interested in the movement, but the more he discussed the matter the greater he found was the variety of proposals. Therefore his proposal to have some scheme io form at least a definite basis of discussion fell through. He thought the best course to adopt would be to set up a committee to bring down some recommendations, and to open subscription lists; these should not. be closed too soon, as some donors might desire to spread tbeir offer over a period.

MEMORIAL PARK.

Mr. C. H. Burgess said he was very much interested in the memorial, as he had a good deal to do with the soldiers during his term of office. He referred to the proposal that the reserve < opposite the railway station should be used upon which to build a town memorial. He was very glad this suggestion had been made, and he hoped the idea was in the minds of a good many others. The reserve had been secured from the Harbor Board by the Borough Council some time ago, and he did not think there should be any trouble in getting it from the borough. Its former acquisition had been with the idea that the site would not become an eyesore to the town. He could think of no better spot for a memorial, as it was the entrance to the town; they did not want to hide their memorial, and this was a site which would be a conspicuous one. It would make a fine memorial park. They would need to secure two adjacent sections which were vested in the Harbor Board, and with these added he thought they would have a splendid site. As far as he was concerned, he was against anything of utility, such as town halls,” cathedrals or other buildings: He further hoped that the womenfolk would not be called upon in this instance, as it was a man’s job.

“I hope we are not going to have, any street days,” said Mr. Burgess, “or any house-to-house collections. If we are going to give it to the soldiers let us give it right out. Don’t let us have to beg, cadge, or to do anything like that; it is an insult to the soldier.” Mr. Burgess pointed out that the Dominion mobilised 100,000 soldiers, and of these 80,000 were volunteers; many more of the balance would have been volunteers, as they came in automatically under the. mobilisation Act; they were quite willing to give their services. It was a fine record to keep in mind.

In reply to Mr. W. H. Skinner, Mr. Burgess said that of the two sections he mentioned one was facing Queen Street.

QUESTION OF TOWN HALL.

The Rev. F. G. Harvie pointed out that it had been suggested a town hall would probably be erected in the neighborhood of the site for the memorial, and he asked if there would be room for both the memorial and the hall.

Mr. Burgess said there had been some talk of the site being used for a theatre, but personally he had never given this aspect much thought. There would not be room for both the town hall and the memorial, and he had always kept the site in mind for a memorial. Though the question was not before the meeting, he thought that the best site for a town hall would be at the present municipal offices. At present he did not think there was much chance of the town providing a hall. • The Rev. Blundell asked if the memorial was to be a Taranaki one, or for New Plymouth in particular. The Mayor said it would certainly be for New Plymouth in particular. The other districts had already done their bit, and although some measure of support might be received from them, the duty was primarily on the people of New Plymouth.

The following resolution was then moved by the Mayor: That a committee of fifteen members be elected to invite and receive voluntary subscriptions towards establishing a permanent war memorial in the Borough of New Plymouth, and at a later date to call a public meeting to finally decide on the same.

The mover said he agreed that subscriptions should be voluntary, and he hoped they would be large. Mr. W. J. Penn suggested that before inviting subscriptions they should decide the form of the memorial.

Mr. W. H. Skinner advocated starting the subscription lists and deciding on the scheme later. He did not think they could depend much on the rest of Taranaki. New Plymouth was last in the field, and they should not expect the others to come in now. Mr. L. Etherington expressed the opinion that one or more proposals, but limited to three, should be selected by the committee, who should then come to a public meeting. The Rev. F. G. Harvie said they must not exploit the memorial to the soldiers to pay for something that should be provided in any case, or for a building which the ratepayers should pay for. COMMITTEE APPOINTED. As there were a number of returned soldiers present it was suggested that their opinions should be heard. In response to the invitation, Mr. A. M. McDiarmid (president of the Returned Soldiers’ Association) said that though he was not speaking officially it was the opinion in his association that it was not altogether their part to : make suggestions in the matter. They j would, however, fall in to support the ] movement with their organisation. They ' had felt for some time past that the time , had long gone when something should be : done. Archdeacon Evans said he had coma to

the meeting with strong utilitarian views; he had had several schemes which he thought the town might take up, and which were really very necessary. He had, however, become converted to Mr. Burgess’ views, and thought there could be no better memorial than the site mentioned, if it was properly laid out. In the centre they might have a monument on the lines of the Captain Scott memorial in Christchurch. The resolution was then carried, with the additional amendment that the committee should consider suggestions as to the form of the memorial. A committee, with power to and. was appointed as follows: The Mayor, Mesdames F. E. Wilson, C. H. Burgess and E. A. Walker, Archdeacon Evans, Messrs. C. H. Burgess, W H. Skinner, W. J. Penn, N. K. McDiarmid, W. C. Weston, C. E. Bellringer, C. H. Weston, Dr. Home, Rev. O. Blundell and Rev. F. G. Harvie.

At a subsequent meeting of the committee Mr. W. C. Weston was appointed treasurer. The Rev. Elliott anil Mr. T. C. List were also appointed to the commit-

tee. The feeling was expressed that the committee should aim at a sum of at lea#-t £5OOO, and subscriptions from one .shilling upwards will be invited immediately. The committee will meet again in a furlnight’s time.