How to Commemorate the War.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16398, 18 December 1918, Page 6

How to Commemorate the War.

On all hands it is agreed that the part played by New Zealand in the greatest war tho world has ever seen ought to be commemorated in a manner befitting its importance. The Government has announco.l its intention of sotting aside a largo sum of money for this object, and no doubt this will be used for tlit* purpose of subsidising local efforts, since provincial jealousies, £tiU unhappily persisting, would hardly allow of the whole of the money toeing devoted to the erection of a national monument, say, in "Wellington. It is possible that sectional differences on this subject may be carried still further, and that even an all-C,anterbury Memorial to be erected in Christchurch would not prevent Timaru from cherishing ambitions for a memorial of its own to preserve the memory of the South Canterbury soldiers who have so worthily upheld the honour not only of their own district but of the whole Dominion.

Wr need luirdly point out tlmt there is a danger of carrying tho3c sectional differences too far. If we wish for a really great and lasting memorial of what our sons have done for the Empire, there must bo a combined effort. Unless the question is taken seriously in hand without delay there is a great probability of various competing projects taking the field—all perhaps excellent in their way, and each receiving a certain amount of support—with tho result that in tho end it Trill be found that nothing on the grand scale worthy of tho occasion has been achieved. It is not easy to say offhand what is the best solution of the problem. A city like Liverpool is ablo to solve the difficulty by the erection of a very fine-military chapel in connexion with the great Cathedral in course of construction. That Cathedral—the most majestic building of tho kind commenced in the lifetime of the present generation—is a source of prido to Alio whole population of Liverpool irrespective of religious differences. We have no doubt the finest architectural skill will be directed to making the chapol a monument worthy of the occasion, and worthy of the bravo men whose names will be inscribed within its walls. It will become invested and permeated by an atmosphere of sanctity and reverence, ivnd its hallowed memorial will serve as a source of inspiration to many succeeding generations. Whether it is possible for all sections of tho community in New Zealand to combine in a similar effort we do not know. But tho whole subject is one eminently worthy of consideration, and it is only by a free interchange of views that the general feeling of tho public can be ascertained. We shall bo very pleased to receivo and publish suggestions with a view to arriving at a satisfactory solution of this highly important question.