Editorial Comment

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 12, 1 August 1917, Page 1037

Editorial Comment

Wellington Anglicans’ ambitious effort to erect a grand cathedral as a war memorial has received a good

War Memorials

deal of criticism from the general public, who suspect that the movement will divert funds from the all-important purpose of providing our soldiers with comforts and necessaries, both at the front, and when they return maimed. New Zealand is so wealthy to-day that it is doubtful if the appeal will seriously interfere with other worthy objects, but the movement started with so much vigour raises the broad question of national war memorials. If Anglicans are going in for “war memorials” in various parts of New Zealand, and other religious bodies do the same; if the general public feels itself compelled—as it will we are sure —to set up something in recognition of the heroism of the men who have gone from particular localities, then we foresee a great waste and conflict over this business which will lower its high tone, and result in a loss of that general enthusiasm and sympathy without which no movement can be effective. In this, the Government should give a lead, at any rate to the extent of securing the advice of those best aide to give it, on the question of how the whole community may unite in a truly worthy memorial to the heroes who have gone from this country. Let us get away from the parochial in this great and solemn duty. If there are to be thousands of little memorials in all parts of the country, let them be simple, and of public utility, and let the whole community, in addition to the local tokens, unite in some general memorial which will serve to fittingly tell posterity what we thought of the gallantry of our lads who left the workshop and the plough and became efficient soldiers in the greatest war in the world’s history. Already this subject has received attention in England, and among the wise things said we would like to repeat the remarks of a writer

in the “Times” who contends that if a community is to express itself it must be through something it likes, and he says boldly, that people do not like the statues, the drinking fountains, the clocks, which they commonly provide as memorials. “They may he monuments of our piety; they are not monuments of our taste in any sense of the word. If we could show them to some man of the future, we should agree with him in disliking them.”

Quite a notable advance was made in the Town Planning movement this month by the conference of Town Planning delegates from Town Planning and kindred organisations which

Town Planning Moves Ahead

was held in Wellington. Credit is due to the Wellington Town Planning and Municipal Electors Association for initiating the gathering, and its results amply compensated for the trouble taken. The Wellington enthusiasts were somewhat dubious about the experiment, for they had had a rather disappointing experience in their efforts, year after year, to impress the Government with the importance of early legislation on the subject. They had been promised legislation “next session” until they tired of deputationising a sympathetic, but apparently helpless Minister. Then it was resolved to enlist the sympathy of kindred bodies throughout New Zealand, and the response was a surprising revelation of the interest taken in city amenities and the housing problem throughout the Dominion. The representation at the conference is worth noting, as an indication of the widespread interest taken in the subject by influential people. Wellington’s delegates were Messrs A. Leigh Hunt, Chas. E. Wheeler, and Carwell Cooke with the Hon. J. G. AY. Ait ken, President of the local Association who opened the conference, while Christchurch was represented by Mr. Hurst He ager, Mr. Holland (mayor), and Mr Kay (chairman of the Christchurch Beautifying Association), Auckland by Mr. C. J. Parr, C.M.G., M.P. (who was elected President of the Conference), Dunedin by the Hon. J. T. Paul, of the Dunedin Amenities and Town Planning Society, Timaru by Air. C. S. Cray, President of the Caroline Bay Association, Wanganui by Air. Hope Gibbons, President of the Wanganui Scenery Preservation and Beautifying Society, Napier by Air. John Payne ALP., and Invercargill by Mr. W. AI. Page. The delegates spent an interesting morning in discussing in a general way the prospects of influencing the Government, and resolved to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs to invite Air. Charles C. Reade, the well known Town Planner, who is now in Australia, to come to New Zealand and draft suitable Town Planning and Housing legislation. To show their earnestness in a practical way, they were prepared to offer to pay half the cost of the expert’s visit. The Hon. G. W. Russell was obviously impressed by the influential nature of the deputation, and instead of repeating former remarks as to the difficulty of doing anything during a Avar session, undertook to

take out of his Local Government Bill, which is hungup, the section relating to Town Planning, and submit it to Cabinet with a strong recommendation that it should be put through this session. The delegates had made up their minds to proceed on slow but sure lines. They would have been quite content had the Minister promised to prepare a Bill for consideration by Town Planners during the recess. But Mr. Russell declared that he favoured prompt action, and did not like the prospect of wasting a year. As the Minister's Town Planning clauses would not be comprehensive enough to make a practical Town Planning measure, the deputation asked if he would accept suggestions, and he readily agreed, suggesting that they should get to work immediately. The measure as it stands would only be operative in the case of complete town planning schemes, but as a good deal can be done to improve towns by wise planning by-laws, suggestions are to be made to him on these lines.

The conference cabled Mr. Reade, who is in Adelaide, to come over immediately so that his valuable knowledge of Town Planning legislation can be made available in securing the best possible measure. The conference has given a splendid lift to the movement, and real progress is about to begin.

New Zealand industries and occupations having been completely classified by the National Efficiency Board

“ Partially Essential ”

under the four headings of “Most Essential, ’’ “Essential,” “Partially Essential, and “Non-Essential/’ we arc able to review the position as it affects two important classes of our readers. Building and contracting, dealing in building requisites, the manufacture of bricks, cement, lime, quarrying, carpentering, plumbing and plastering all appear under the heading of “partially essential.’’ Motor repairing for commercial purposes is in the same category, but motor agents arc among the “non-essentials’’ just now. The classification of building and allied trades under “partially essential’’ gives a Government guarantee that the business may continue, but only under short sail. To put it into the official language of the classification :—“ (C.) Partially Essential.—The industries and occupations included under this heading are deemed to be of secondary importance to those in Class B (Essential). In this classification it may bo found that a much smaller percentage of men need be excluded from military service than in Class B; but there will be some whose removal would imperil the successful maintenance of the industry or occupation, and in proved cases such men should be exempt.” Having classified the industries, the National Efficiency Board is engaged on the important task of assessing the value of various tasks within these industries, so as to advise the Government and the Military Service Boards what jobs in a partially essential industry should be done by skilled men who may he regarded as indispensable if the industry is to be maintained.