THE SCOTT MEMORIAL.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14599, 25 February 1913, Page 6

THE SCOTT MEMORIAL.

Thoro appears to be no doubt now that the dependents of Captain Scott and his companions of the South Polo party will bo provided for. Tho British Primo Minister has at last mado a definite announcement to tho effect that tho Government will so provide for tho bereaved that their positions will remain as if the distaster had never occurred. Strictly speaking, of courso, that is impossible, but even looking at the matter from tho purely financial point of view, which was all that Mr Asquith was referring to, his statement can hardly bo taken quite literally. None of the five men wero middle-aged, and had thoy lived, four of thorn would no doubt havo received promotion in tho services of which thoy wero members. The grant that will be mado to their dependents, however, will , in all likelihood bo calculated oil tho basis of the rato of pay tho members of the party wero receiving at tho timo of their death. If this woro all tho dependents would receive, it would bo the wish of all that any funds collected hero should bo sent Homo to swell tho National Fund. But that has already reached a total of £30,000, sufficient to pay off tho liabilities on tho expedition, and it will doubtless receive further additions beforo it closes. Wo do not know yet what will bo dono with the funds now being raised in Australia, but if they aro also sent Homo, the National Fund should bo ablo to supploment tho Government grant very considerably. As far as can bo seen, thorefore, any sums contributed locally may bo applied to tho erection of a suitable memorial to tho heroic dead. The meeting held yesterday in the Council Chamber did not do much to settle tho question as to tho form which tho memorial should take —nor whero it should bo placed. There is much to bo said in favour of Mr Booth's suggestion that memorial tablets should bo placed in all the schools, to bo mado tho subject of a special lesson on a oertain day in tho year. Lyttelton wants a national memorial erected on a prominent site in that town, so that it could bo seen from every ship entering tho harbour. Wo aro afraid that it is hopeless to expect that other towns and cities in which funds aro being raised will agree that the money should bo spent on a monument in or near Lyttelton, or oven in Christchurch. H this district desires to commemorate the lost explorers, os it (should do, it must provide the money itself, and under tho circumstances wo havo heard of no bettor suggestion than that which was mado by Bishop Julius yesterday— that a great monolith or monument should be set up on tho top of tho Port Hills, so that it could bo seen, not only j from Lyttelton and Christchurch, but for many miles distant. Tho McKenzie Monument on tho top of a high hill just below Palraerston South, affords a precedent for a form of memorial

which would be dignified, and which would stand for generations as a record of Canterbury's recognition of courage and fortitude.