LATE KING GEORGE.

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19880, 8 May 1936, Page 9

LATE KING GEORGE.

PROPOSED MEMORIAL. SOME SUGGESTIONS. LONDON, May 16. The growing feeling that a National Park chosen from among the beautiful stretches of so-far unspoiled country up and down Britain, would be the most suitable memorial to King George V. was summed up in comment made last night by Mr D. M. Matheson, secretary of the National Trust, says the News Chronicle. “We do think it would be a most suitable memorial to King George,” he told the News Chronicle, “because It was in his reign that the open-air movement grew up. When the Jubilee Fund was formed he wanted it to be used for youth and youth is particularly associated with the open air, so that a National Park would be very appropriate.” Two London committees are concluding inquiries into suitable memorials. The Statute Committee is understood to favour demolishing buildings on the south .side of Abingdon Street to provide a better view of the Abbey and space for a statue of the late King. The Philanthropic Scheme Committee have to chose the second memorial; they will decide whether it shall be a medical research fund, cottage homes for old people, hostels for young people seeking work away from home, or a national park. It is the first ancl last of these suggestions that find most favour. Youth’s Desire. Many young people are most anxious that a national park, chosen from such sites as the Lake District, Ihe Peak District, the South Downs, Wales, or even as far north as the Cairngorms, in Scotland, should be the memorial. On the other hand, there is a strong body of opinion in favour of a fund to further medical or similar work. This second suggestion is favoured by the majority of the lord mayors who attended the first conference on the memorial. Alderman W. J. Avens, Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, said yesterday: "I think the feeling here is that a national memorial should take the form of a cancer fund or medical fund. Otherwise, we feel we should like to provide a local memorial.” Councillor H. M. Medland, Lord Mayor of Plymouth, said: “As King George was always interested in medical research, a cancer fund or fund for research work would be the best national memorial.”