WAR' MEMORIAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIX, Issue 9634, 14 June 1919, Page 5

WAR' MEMORIAL.

TO-DAY'S CO^{FERE^SCE.

A meeting of members* .of the Borough and County Councils, road boards and others interested was held in the County Council Chambers thJ9..morn- ;- mg, to consider., the matter of a war memorial. Tho Mayor (Mr R. Galbraith) presided over a representative attendance. . ■■■■ ■' .•.'.""•'•■

Tiio Mayor ■explained that the meeting had been ""called: by the .Borough Council, to couter with- the County 'Council to obtain some idea of what would be a ritting form to commemorate the war. 'ihe County-Council had axed this day and the members o*\hat body would place , the views 'of the meeting before the County Council, when me matter would be placed before a. meeting of ratepayers to be called next weeic probably. The Mayor said Ins first vww had been tor a memorial town hall, but now'he felt that the County ratepayers could hardly be caned on to 'support such a proposal, .tie now favoured memorial arches on the main trarh'c bridge and he quoted a soldier's letter on these lines and further advocated that the bridge be a part) of the memorial, »•' --- A proposal was mooted by the County Council foi; a ferro-concrece bridge. ,• The bridge would have co be constructed sooner or later, and these arches ; couid be incorporated in the plan so as to link 1 up with the new bridge. Thet returned soldiers should have an. opinion in this matter and he would be prepared to back an opimoii so expressed. The uorough ratepayers subscribed to the oridge upkeep and the county and borough could iittingly combine for the erection of memorial arches at the briuge to the memory of the fallen, and those who had served in the war. Tlie ■Mayor thta read a letter from the Govermneut sayingl that subsidies would be available tor pence celebrations, but not tor permanent memorials. Another letter by Mr Chas. W. i'urnell, published in the "Lyttelton Times", on war memorials, was read," advocating a central memorial in Christchurch and tablets in tiio lesser centres.

Mr John Cairns, chairman of the County Council, said that" the life of die present bridge would be. about 15 .years, and it would not be well to have die memorial arches standing isolated during that time. He favoured something being erected in ABhburton, the centre of the important Ashburton County. He road a letter from Mr Purnell advising that , contributions from the County Council could not be made " available outside the County limits, that is, in the borough. Mr Cairns regretted' that this. Counoil, as a body, could not come into a scheme with the borough because Ashburton must be always the lea-ding town of the County. -■■'■... ■ • ■ Mr Nosworthy, AI.P., recognised the difficulty of settling on the form of a war memorial,, but ho suggested that the best way to commemorate the memory of the soldiers was for the Dbmiri-' ion as a whole to set up a memorial to benefit the widows and children b'f the fallen, in the form ofjan endowment. All provinces' and counties should contribute to this .endowment. Bricks and mortar were all-right^ but it was best through a great national endowment to provide \ for the widows and children for all time. At Mr Ferriman's suggestion, he thought the mothers of -the fallen, and flisabled soldiers should benefit. He thought the Government should also make a big" endowment.

Mr J. Watson said he agreed with the Mayor, but he thought the utility part should be very much in subservience. He advocated something that would arrest the attention and kindle the -imagination of tho youth of posterity. He favoured a statue that would symbolizes all the forces that had brought us victory, the soldier, the nurse, the sailor and the airman should all be represented. He pointed out that the Government intended to introduce legislation in regard to war memorials, wliich might empower borough, county and local bodies to combine in a loan for a war memorial. Out of this loan, the demands of such places as Methven and Rakaia might be met As regards 'Mr Nosworthy's suggestion, the widows and children were a small proportion and whatever was done should be entirely representative. Something should be erected to appeal to the heart, to the soul of the nation.

Mr C. lloid said any memorial that was erected should have surroundings, and tho Mayor's suggestion hardly fitted in with this requirement. As regards Mr Nosworthy's suggestion, that was surdy a matter for Government action. A local memorial was wanted, and in Ashburton especially there should be a good memorial, and he thoi^Mt an appeal could still be made-- to tho County as a whole. He favoured a. statue that would be of real permanency, there for ever. utility memorial would bo mixeu up with "the community in time. Mr Kosworthy explained that his idea was for a national memorial, to which the whole Dominion could contribute. ■ Mr F. Ferriman said he wanted to ask permission to leave sketches of proposed memorials on the table ..for inspection. Whatever was done, the widows aud disabled must be provided for. A great rugged piece of stone, pram to preferably, erected in a central place in'the town and containing the names of County soldiers, he tliougl.it would be most fitting. . Mr W." G. Gallagher paid Mr iNosworthy'R suggestion was the plain duty of the Government to carry out. He thought a memorial should be of educative vame for the young, and he thought Mr Ferriman's idea was /the best/ Ho clirl not think a memorial hall would please those who had lost sons at the war. Mr J-imes Bruce said that, as- a. country resident, Mr Gallagher's suggestion pleased him. The monument should be erected in the. centre of the. district—Ashburton —and he felt quite sure tlmt country residents would approve such an idea and would help the Borough in the erection of a central monument. Tie thought he was voicing the opinion of the residents of his district in saying this. Mr W. Robinson said that a good many districts bad arranged memorials of their own, but it was recognised in his district (Hampstead) that help should be given to a central memorial. Mr Nosworthy's suggestion did not roach, the purpose that was tho motive of the meeting beinp- held. He-thought it would yet be legal for local, bodies to contribute to these permanent j memorials. As for a monument, there was something wanted better than the present Boer War memorial It should be striking in appearance, and sited where it could be seen and noted. In smaller districts halls were all right, but in a centre statuary was more fitting. Mr W. T. Lill said he hoped we should adopt some proposal for a memo-