WAR MEMORIAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 April 1922, Page 8

WAR MEMORIAL.

NEW PLYMOUTH PROPOSALS. SUM OF £«000 AIMED AT. SITE FOR THE CENOTAPH. The committee who were recently appointed by a public meeting to further the erection of a war memorial in New Plymouth met last night, when it was decided to approach the Borough Council with a view to securing certain land opposite the railway station as a site for the cenotaph. The amount to be aimed at for the erection of the cenotaph and memorial gates was fixed at a minimum of £6OOO. Mr. C. H. Burgess presided, and there were also present: The Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), Archdeacon Evans, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., Messrs. W. J. Chaney, J. McLeod, L. A. Nolan, G. E. Roper, W. Ambury, F. J. Hill, P. J. H. White, J, S. Connett, W. J. Penn, C. E. Bellringer, F. Hartnell, W. C. Weston, V. Griffiths, C. Carter. C. H. Weston, A. B. Gibson, and F. T. Bellringer (secretary).

.A report on behalf of the sites and designs sub-committee was presented by Mr. W. H. Skinner. He stated: — Two meetings have been held, both of which were occupied mainly with the inspecting of various sites for the memorial, which had been suggested for consideration. Those actually inspected were six in number, viz.: No. 1, the municipal reserve at the junction of St. Aubyn and Egmont Streets, opposite the railway station; No. 2, the triangle at the intersection of Queen and St. Aubyn Streets, in front of Terminus Hotel; No. 3, junction of Devon and Liardet Streets; No. 4, the triangular area where the Carrington Road joins up with Courtenay Street; No. 5, at junction of Vivian and Brougham Streets, Dr. Blackley’s and St. Mary’s churchyard corners; and No. 6. space around post office ’front in Devon and Queen Streets. Nos. 7, 8 and 9—Marsland Hill, Western and Kawaroa Parks —were not visited, as our order of reference was considered to restrict us. at least for the present,' to those possible sites in and around the business centre of the borough. With respect to the individual sites, Nos. 3, 4 and 6, owing io insufficient space, with the consequent congestion and danger to traffic, could not be recommended for consideration. Certainly, in the case of No. 3—Liardet and Devon Streets—one of the corners is vacant, which would permit the rounding off of the streets at that particular locality, providing a sight adjoining one of the busiest crossings in the town. The cost, however, of securing the vacant freehold, or the corner portion required, was considered would be quite too great a handicap to overcome.

ESTIMATES OF COST. The site favored by the majority o-f the sub-committee, subject to certain conditions, is No. 1, the municipal land opposite the railway station. The site in itself, restricted, and with only sufficent space around for a diminutive lawn or lawns, does not commend itself to our view of what is fit and proper as a setting for such a memorial as is proposed to be erected. Space is required not only to provide a suitable setting to the cenotaph, but equally to prevent the crowding around of buildings in an unsightly jumble, spoiling the effect and belittling the whole purpose of the memorial. We are building for the geenrations that will follow, as well as for ourselves, and as far as ft is possible we must provide for future contingencies in this respect. It is therefore suggested that a strong deputation be arranged to wait upon the Borough Council with, the view of requesting that the whole of this reserve should be set aside as a minor park, or garden site, for the reception of the memorial.

With regard to the memorial, the committee are of opinion that if financially possible, it should take the form of the cenotaph erected at the Empire’s centre, Whitehall. London. An estimate has been obtained of reproducing this striking memorial in New Zealand marble, such as that being used in the New Zealand Parliamentary buildings. Wellington, and many other large public structures. The estimate for' the completed memorial, the dimensions of which are given as forty feet high by fifteen feet wide and two feet deep, is £4500. If a reduction is made in these dimensions, say a height of thirty-five feet and corresponding lessening in other measurements, the estimated cost is £lOOO less, or £3500. RECORDING THE NAMES. I regret that information which Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., has been trying to obtain from the Minister of Public Works and ray own efforts made privately from the Public Works Office, Wellington, as to plans, specifications and estimated cost of the cenotaph to be erected in Parliament House grounds have not been received. When this information is at hand it will be a valuable guide to the general committee in arriving at a further estimate as to cost, and also what the department consider the best material adapted for such a work. Referring to the recommendation of the report, the chairman said personally be believed that if the memorial was to be in the centre of the town —and he believed this was the idea — the land opposite the station was the only site. Speaking on this question also, Mr. Skinner said that the extra land in St. Aubyn Street which the borough was being asked to give amounted to about one-fifth of an acre. Mr. Connett said the objection had been raised by at least one mother o-f a deceased soldier against the proposal to put the names of the soldiers on a tablet at the memorial gates. The opinion had been expressed that the two schemes should not be separated, and that the roll of honor should go with the cenotaph. A letter received from a correspondent also expressed somewhat similar views. The chairman said that, seeing the proposal had been carried by a public meeting, it was a question whetner the committee could alter it. A motion for the adoption of the report was moved by Mr. McLeod and seconded by Mr. Carter. SECURING THE LAND. In the course of discussion Mr. Hartnell said he did not think there would be a voice raised against the giving of the land by the borough to such a cause. He thought the people ought to force the hands of the council if they were not willing to give the land. In any case he understood the site had not been set aside for commercial purposes. A r<

Mr. White said he thought it should be known that a large section of the public were in. favour of the proposal. Mr. Smith interposed that he did not think that it was fair the meeting should assume that the Borough Council was going to decide contrary to the wishes of a large body of the public. He had no doubt the council would give the matter every consideration. Mr. Skinner urged that the committee’s aim should be to get the whole > of the land in order to make the mem- ; orial a fitting one. i The chairman agreed with this view, and contended that the town ought to be able to provide a total area of seven-eighths of an acre of land for the purpose of such a memorial. Mr. Roper mentioned that if the memorial was placed on the site proposed, it was probable fqture Anzac commemoration services would be held at the cenotaph. The report was then adopted. RAISING THE MONEY. A motion was moved by Mr. C. E. Bellringer and seconded by Mr. Connett that the committee aim at raising a sum of £6OOO. This was carried after a brief discussion. Proposals for raising money were mentioned by Mr. C. E. Bellringer, who explained that the finance committee had informally discussed this question, although they did not have mucn basis to go on. It was suggested that tiie collection should be made by means of promise cards. These would be sent first to those citizens who were regarded as likely to be able to give the largest contributions, and later could be forwarded to all citizens. One idea was that where the donors were desirous the payment could be spread over a period, such as £1 per month for a, stated time. It was decided that the sub-commit-tees which have been acting in regard to various inquiries be formed into one committee for the purpose of carrying out further arrangements. The committee is to arrange for a deputation to wait on the Borough Council with reference to the acquisition of the land. THE ROLL OF HONOR.

The question of the roll of honor, as mentioned by Mr. Connett, was discussed by the meeting. Mr. McLeod urged that the idea of a cenotaph was as a symbol of mourning rather than of individual remembrance. He said there were a number of reasons why the names could not be inscribed on the cenotaph. He did not think it inappropriate that the names should be placed at the memorial gates at the entrance to the recreation grounds. Many of the young men were athletes who would have been using such grounds had they not made the sacrifice. Mr. Connett said no doubt after Mr. McLeod’s explanation the position would be more generally understood. Mr. Penn pointed out that the committee would need to exerecise great care in regard to the preparation of any roll of honor. There were many points to be considered in regard as to what names were eligible to go on the roll. Before the meeting dispersed Mr. Roper mentioned that arrangements were being made for a memorial service on Anzac Day, and on behalf of the Returned Soldiers’ Association he invited representatives of all local bodies to join in the march from the post office to Pukekura Park. Mr. Roper also spoke on behalf of the appeal to be made on Poppy Day (tomorrow ).