SOLDIERS' MEMORIALS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 7564, 7 May 1919, Page 8

SOLDIERS' MEMORIALS.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Tho time is rapidiy approaching for tbo signing of. Peace terms, and so far nothing tangible has been suggested a.:! to what form the memorial to our fcoidiers ;4ia!! bo. Latoly several schemes of town-plrnning have beer, advanced. Why not. Sir, embrace- the idea of a comprehensive town-planning scheme with one aim in view—a memorial to our local heroes or, for that ma/tt?r, to all these who served in the Great War, and one likely to moot with universal approval. Along our roads and streets single, trees or small groups of trees sboul;] be planted v.t intervais, and t=ac-h tree should have atfxed to the necessary protecting fence, a pJate or tablet, say, 12 inches long and six inches wide, made of, say. repousse copper, mounted <.n some hard wood backing, bearing the soldier's name. 1 would suggest, Sir, any citizen have the right to dedicate their own tree to whichever hero hey prefer, and further, that the trees bo ot British oak When tho trees have attained sufficient size, the fencing could bs dispensed with and the tablet attached to the tree. Such a living monument would <lo far more to keep green the memory of those who made the supreme sacrifice than any other monument. You generally find in most places where monuments are erected a diffi. cuily in reaching it, for the single reason it must be placed in such a position that it can be seen by everyone from s-.il quarters, and older people when they wish to read the names inscribed, ;n----variably find the approach to these ei"-*----vated monuments rather difficult aivl tiresome, but were this idea of perpetuating tho memory adopted anyone would be enabled to erect their oivn (but it must hs uniform> and safeguard 'their own memorial to their chosen he to The planting of trees in this direction is no new thing. In every town it will be seen. Take our own town : in Motoiui Gardens trees may be seen dedicated to divers persons. Apart from the desirability of the project as a means i? perpetuating the memory or those who nave fallen, its aesthetic value would bo groat. It this scheme were adopted in could be easily modified to suit local conditions. It certainly would be d'isirable to interest the children in the scheme, ami they should, as far as practicable, be associated with the planting, so that the trees might be sacrosanct in the eyes of tho iiiost- mischievous boys. Whilst the universal date unfortunately, fixed as Arbour Day throughout the J)o----minion, notwithstanding its varied conditions eiimaticaiiy in its widely distant latitudes', is not suitable everywhere, tho different towns could- select tlunr time for wlu.t should be an interesting historic ceremony. However, Sir. it behoves us to be "up and doing" something and to lose no time in taking steps to mature some memorial plan and to secure expert advice thereon. —I am. etc.,

E. BULL