CENOTAPH AND MUSEUM

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 245, 16 October 1929, Page 10

CENOTAPH AND MUSEUM

SEPARATE DATES SUGGESTED

ANZAC DAY FAVOURED.

RETURNED SOLDIERS' DECISION.

After an exhaustive discussion, the. executive of the Auckland Returned Soldiers' Association declared definitely, at a meeting yesterday, against the two ceremonies of opening the War Memorial Museum .and dedicating the Cenotaph, as intended by the War Memorial Committee, taking place on November 28, the only day on wliich the GovernorGeneral would be able to attend. It was resolved that a reply be sent to the War Memorial Committee repeating the request for a separate ceremony for the dedication of the Cenotaph, that it should be held on Anzac Day, out of consideration for the many people who were vitally interested and that the War Memorial Committee should consent to meeting a sub-committee from the association to discuss matters in connection with the opening ceremony on November 28. It was suggested that out of respect for the Governor-General and Archbishop Averill, the association should consent to the two ceremonies taking place on the one day, even if the grounds were not in condition to accommodate a crowd, at the same time affirming its demand for the return of the Hall of Memories and the inscribing of the roll of honour. It was also urged that as the museum and the cenotaph were one in the memorial sense, one ceremony should be, held for the two.

The majority were of the opinion that the cenotaph ceremony should take place on the day of days, when all ex-service men and women, next-of-kin and the whole public would be able to attend, and eventually the few who supported the other view fell in with that verdict.