WAR MEMORIALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 April 1922, Page 4

WAR MEMORIALS.

CENOTAPH AND MEMORIAL GATES. NEW PLYMOUTH’S DECISION. WORK TO GO ON IN EARNEST. A public meeting last night, attended by about one hundred, unanimously adopted the suggestion that a war memorial for New Plymouth should take the form of a cenotaph, with a supplementary scheme for the erection of memorial gates to Pukekura Park, incorporating a roll of honor. The Mayor (Mr. F- E. Wlilson), who presided, expressed pleasure at seeing such .an increased attendance on the former meeting. Last year it was decided to have a memorial on the land opposite the railway station, but. the Borough Council could not see their way to grant the whole of the site that was asked for. It might appear that matters were then apparently allowed to drag, but in reality it was not so. He assured them that the subject was not lost sight of, and that a great deal of private interest was manifested, and many conversations took place, with the result, he hoped, that this latest meetihg would be but the beginning of a successful effort.

Mr. Wilson recalled that he was waited on by a deputation of representative citizens, who held the view that with the approach of the anniversary of Anzac Day it was time to bring the proposal to a head. With those representations he had heartily agreed. He moved the following resolution: “That in the opinion of this meeting there must be no further delay in erecting a war memorial in New Plymouth, and that immediate steps be taken to raise the necessary funds by public subscription to effect this object.” In support of this he said there was no doubt that if New Plymouth intended in any way to commemorate the ser.ices in the late war by their own soldiers they must move at once.

The motion was seconded by Mr- S. G. Smith, M.P., and carried without any further discussion. The meeting was asked to decide the form of the memorial in the following motion moved by Mr. C. E. Bellringer: “In order that there shall be no later difficulties regarding the form • the memorial should take, and in order that subscribers may know exactly for what object they are subscribing, this meeting resolves that the primary object to which the funds be applied shall be the erection of a cenotaph in a central and prominent position in die town.” The mover thought that a cenotaph would be the best form of a permanent memorial to keep in the minds of the people the memory of the great, sacrifice of those who had laid down their lives for the liberty and freedom of the people. He understood also that the project was entirely in accord with the wishes of the men who returned. There were many homes to which the boys would never come back, and it would be an eternal disgrace if the people did not have in their town —and city that was to be—some form of memorial to show that they did homage to the noble spirit which prompted the sacrifices at the call of duty. Probably there were differences of opinion as to the form of the memorial, but he did not thing they could go far wrong in following the lead given by the chief city of the Empire- A cenotaph stood right in the heart of Whitehall, London. As the cenotaph would be a simple but eloquent memorial, it was thought that there should be something ii\ the shape of a roll of honor on which the names of the fallen would be inscribed. The cenotaph would have only a short, appropriate inscription, and those interested in the matter thought that gates should be erected at the entrance to Pukekura Park, containing panels on which the names of the fallen could he inscribed. This would ensure the preservation of a permanent record. The estimated cost of the cenotaph would be probably from £2OOO to £2500, but in any case it had to be reme.mbered that it was more than a New Plymouth memorial. They lived in the chief town of the province, and ought to do something worthy of the object and of the town. He had confidence that the people would find more than the sum mentioned, and that they would be able to raise from four to five thousand pounds by direct gifts from the people. Mr. Bellringer thought that the method of collection should be by free gifts, and emphasised that the intrinsic value of the donation did not count so much as the spirit in which it was given. He hoped, therefore, that everyone in the community would feel that they had an opportunity of taking a part in the erection of the memorial-

In seconding the motion Mr. W. H. Skinner said lie had always been in favor of a memorial of this description rather than anything utilitarian. He thought the object mentioned was one they should strive to obtain. In his opinion, however, the estimate was rather small, and urged that there should be no half measures.

In inviting discussion, the Mayor said that at the previous meetings the present proposal did not come up—at any rate, not in the same form. It was suggested later, and appealed ( at once to him, and he thought it rhust appeal to all, because they had before them, not only the example of the Mother City (London), but also of their own capital city. In Wellington a temporary cenotaph had been erected outside Parliament Buildings, and had found so much favor in popular sentiment that it was to be made permanent in Lambton Quay.

Mr. G- E. Roper expressed the opinion that the amount mentioned was not sufficient, and he would not like those present to go away without understanding the position.

Mr. Bellringer said the figure was only an estimate, and he thought it would be understood that the cenotaph had the first call on the money, even if it took the lot. The motion was then put and carried unanimously.

A further motion, advocating the erection of memorial gates at the entrance to Pukekura Park, was then moved by MrA. M. McDiarmid. He said he was heartily in accord with the decision of the meeting in favor of the cenotaph, and he thought the great body of returned soldiers were of the same mind. While the cenotaph would be a commemoration in a general way, however, something further was needed of a more detailed nature, and he thought the purpose would be served by the suggestion . before the meeting, the .gates to be in keeping with the object and with the grounds, and by placing the names of the fallen from the town (or whatever district was decided) on suitable panels. This was not to serve so much for the present as for posterity, and he thought the idea of preserving the names to future generations would appeal to the public. It might be that some people would hesitate in giving to a fund if they thought that any portion of it was to be diverted from the general memorial. If this was so, the committee in charge would need to make provision for such instances. Seeing that the great majority of men made their sacrifice in the prime of life—they were only at the gateway—h« thought

the form of commemoration was very propriate. In seconding the resolution, Mr- Burgess said he had to confess that there ww no great enthusiasm over the last effort, but the delay in bringing the matter forward had created greater interest, and he thought the meeting was an indication that the proposals would be gone on with immediately. Personally he was opposed to anything utilitarian, but the fact that the cenotaph was to be really the memorial enabled him to support the gates proposal. He was very much in favor of a cenotaph, and he believed it must come even if the other scheme had to go by the board, and it must be worthy, not only of the town to-day, but of the City of New Plymouth in the time to come. They really represented the whole province of Taranaki. In declaring the motion carried, the Mayor said he was glad to see such unanimity. A resolution was carried disbanding the committee set up at the previous public meeting, and according to the members the thanks of the citizens for their ser-

The meeting proceeded to set up a committee, with the Mayor as patron and the following members: Messrs. S. G. Smith, M-P., J. S. Connett (chairman of the Taranaki County Council), Newton King (chairman of the Harbor Board), P. J. H. White (Education Board), T. C. List (Chamber of Comlnerce), J. S. Fox (High Schools Board), the Ven. Archdeacon Evans, Messrs. C- H. Burgess, C. H. Weston, A. M. McDiarmid, C. E. Bellringer, J. McLeod, W. H. Skinner,' A. Humphries, W- J. Chaney, G Roper, W. J. Penn, F. Hartnell, L. A. Nolan, C. Carter, F. J. Hill, V. Griffiths, J. R. Hill, W. Ambury, A- B. Gibson, and Command-apt Middlemiss. The committee were given power to add. In reply to Mr. Roper, who suggested that some of the ladies who did such valuable work during the war should be elected to the committee, Mr. Bellringer said the reason why ladies _ were not proposed was that it was believed the task was a man’s job. In acknowledging a vote of thanks for his services as chairman of the meeting, the mayor said it was hoped to have the movement launched by Anzac Day, and brought to a successful result not later than Armistice Day. A meeting of the committee was held subsequently. The Mayor amplified some remarks made earlier in the meeting, to the effect that he did » ot desire to hold the chairmanship, owing to other multifarious duties, but would desire to keep in touch with the movement. Mr. C- H. Burgess was appointed chairman of the committee, and the borough treasurer (Mr. F. T. Bellringer) as treasurer and secretary. The following temporary sub-committees were set up to report to a full meeting of the committee on the 19th instant: —Finance: The Mayor, Messrs. N. King, J. S. Connett, C- E. Bellringer and W. C. Weston. Site and designs: Messrs. W. H. Skinner, S. G. Smith, F. J. Hill, A. MMcDiarmid and Archdeacon Evans.