THE WAR MEMORIAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 182, 3 August 1929, Page 8

THE WAR MEMORIAL.

The people of Auckland should be gratified to learn that. a staH x3;'it last to be made with the construction;:'Of atceiiotaph and court of honour in front 'of the War Memorial, Museum; But while any attempt : 'to jetiiphasise.the special character and p.^rp : imposing struc'tiiir.o should ;be.: supported, there appears to be-a i danger of at least one grave error irt judgment on the part of those responsible for the layout of the surroundings. It is stated authoritatively that the 'open space in front of the Museum, and the cenotaph itself, are to be surrounded with pllms, Japanese cedars, and possibly other exotic trees. We are entirely at a loss to understand the grounds for this extraordinary decision. It has been suggested that palms are appropriate to the architectural character of tho buildihg. But this type of building was selected not because it is Greek, but because it is dignified .and,, impressive,,j and Ahem is no reason in logic, -or ,art induce us. to ,provideyfor it that, are;eiitfreiy out' 1 • -withi.'tho-CQh'ditroijs^of^lifc!.familiar to here/ is a splendid opportunity to give this Wai' lttemorial a character arid significance ~4f 'own -by inklnngyit as far as possible and its-peoples arid tfi;isvoan; admirable \e%et ;: by planting tho env ; i4)ns;,.Qf. the Museum .the, cenotaph with New Zealand frees. The: hiany fjulefe already made *in the Lancaster Elliott' ancl .. t fe® of .New- Zealand ,and: itf?. national life, and by their dignity and beauty admirab y atoptejl Museum, -withof'its most essten&l characteristic!?, and - the ? ,l |i go v far-toward destroying the-.effect .tbat tho great architectural merits of, the structure "and the beauty of its'siuTOundings-must otherwise produce. We hope that, the pressU^.of public opinion■ will induce to chango their intentions in - jtliis particular Without- delay.