AUCKLAND'S WAR MEMORIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 187, 9 August 1922, Page 7

AUCKLAND'S WAR MEMORIAL.

SPLENDID RESPONSE TO COMFETITIO-I. SEVENTY FOUR DESIGNS ENTERED. PUBLIC APPEAL IN ABOUT TWO MONTHS. "Forty-eight designs for the Auckland War Memorial Museum have been received, and advice is to hand that twentysix more left London by the first mail after June 30," said the Mayor this morning. "When these arrive it means that there will be 74 designs to place before the jury of awards. In view of the magnitude of the work and tbe large sum involved in the preparation of the plans, to say nothing about the demand made upon the professional skill of the architects, this number must be considered very satisfactory," commented Mr. Gunson. "And from among this fine response I am sure that the jury of awards will be able to select a design that will be worthy of Auckland's war memorial effort, and will perpetuate our museum and war memorial interests. It must not be forgotten that tbe feature of tlie building will be the hall of memorials, in which will be located all the articles of war interest, and where will be hung war pictures and photographs of those who distinguished themselves as members of tho New Zealand forces during tbe l.reat War. This hall should give to the builling an enduring character as a war memorial. For the designing of this memorial edifice we know that we shall have the work to choose from some of the best architects of New Zealand and England, to say nothing of other parts of the Empire from which competitive designs are coming." JUDGING AND EXHIBIT OF DESIGNS. "Up to the present point," added tbe Ma j'or, "the Citizens' Committee is greatly indebted to their professional adviser, Mr. C. R. Ford, of Wanganui, who ha.3 already given gratuitously an enormous amount of time to the work of ecmtrollingn tbe competition and answering inquiries from competitors. This work is all embodied in three memoranda which, during the last nine months, have been sent out to the competitors. The overseas designs cannot be here for another fortnight, and none of the designs will be opened or touched until the whole of them are in hand. Tlie question of a suitable building for the display of the designs and facilities for the jury of awards to carry out their work will receive the attention of the Citizens' Committee, for which purpose it will be called together at the end of this month. The jury of awards, which will judge the designs, consists of Messrs. C. R. Ford (Wanganui) and C. W. Wood (Christchurch), both architects, and Dr. T. W. Leys and Messrs. O. Nicholson and T. F. Cheeseman, of Auckland. A number of questions in connection with the competition of a detail nature, and as to policy, after the winning design is known, will be referred to the Citizens' Committee for consideration. Among others is a suggestion that a certificate of honourable mention, suitably executed, should be awarded to a number of the best designs. These and other similar questions will be determined by the committee at its meeting later in the month." THE APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC. "The appeal for the balance of the money required will be made to the public soon after the winning design is announced and has been exhibited, together with the leading designs in the competition. This public appeal will be p.bout the end of September or early in October, as far as we can at present tell, and the Citizens' Committee will be asked to determine the details of this appeal, and will now have to get into touch with tlie various organisations, with the view of making the preliminary arrangements for a widespread appeal to the people for this great objective."