WAR MEMORIALS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16528, 21 May 1919, Page 7

WAR MEMORIALS.

SIR JAMES ALLEN'S VIEWS.

UTILITARIAN SCHEMES

DISCOUNTED

A PLEA FOR STONE OR BRONZE.

'rr.KSS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.)

WELLINGTON, May 20

Proposals for the erection of war memorials on foreign fields of battle were referred to by Sir James Allen at the Toivn-planning Coul'crenco today. lie said ho hoped to have beforo Cabinet to-day proi-osals for the acquisition of land in four or five places in Franco, possibly on Gallipoli, and possibly in Palestine. Those sites were being acquired, so if they decided to place memorials of tho deeds of j our men in France, Gallipoli, and ' Palestine, thoy would have land on | which to do so. The Mother Country and tiio other Dominions were securing theso plots of land, and tuvy advised Now Zealand to do so. He thought it right that tlicy should. Jt was proposed tliat tiic-y should have tour memorials in tue fie.us of France. There would bo no diiiieultv about that. Memorials would be piaccd in the country of their Ally in memory of tiie incu ivjio had fougiit to help tnat AH}', but thero might be difficulty about Palestine and Gahipoli. it wouid bo difioront if they owned Gallipoli, but they had to consider whether they should place memorials in the hands of the 'lurks, in the territory of those thoy Jiad iought against to commemorate the fact that thoy had fought against them. Then there was tflo question oi mernoiia s in the foreign cemeteries of tho world, where our men were buried. Tiio War Graves Commission was laying out cemeteries with tho advico of tho best horticultural experts, and tho host architects. Thev were proposing to spend a million anil a half of iroiK v y in this work of laving out cemeteries, roading, planting, "etc. New Zealand was joining in, and her Bharo of tho expenditure* was he thought, £23,000 for a year. ' They did not hesitate to provide their sharo in this great national work. It was proposecl that, on tho plot covering each New Zealand soldior, there should by a simple headstone, giving his name and regiment. They had tho right to select their own design, within certain limits of size, and ho would be glad if tho Conference would appoint a committeo to sco tho models that had been prepared. One that comitself to him was n rcarblo stone with a simple cross, and the letters "N.Z.E.F." in the angles of tho cioss. Tho cross and inscription would be lot in in lead, and it appeared to him to bo tho most enduring and artistic design submitted The' Imperial War Graves Commission was gathering together individual soldiers who had been buried in out of the way places and endeavouring to have them collected in cemeteries, where they could have memorials, not of what New Zealand had done and had lost, but as these would bo Empire cemeteries, of what tho Empire had done. Two memorials wore proposed —ono a plain flat stone, erected upon magnificent stops, representing the altar on which the men had laid down their lives, and the other a beautiful cross.

Sir James Allen asked them to consider what they would do in New Zealand in memory of the sacrifices that had been made during the war. Ho knew that many pedfrle favoured utilitarian schemes—hospitals, universities, etc. —but no building of that kind could represent to him what the lessons of thp war had taught him. He was certain that artistic memorials represent: ing the principles that the men liad fought and died for had a largo part in influencing nations and building up national character. Ho knew the influences the Nelson Monument in Trafalgar Square, London, had upon him. Me had not timo to allude to monuments in other countries, but he had asked General Pau if the monuments in France had an effect on French character. General Pau replied that they had made France what Bhe was to-day. They could have hospitals and universities in ordinary times, but these were extraordinary times, and something extraordinary was required in the way of memorials; something to pass on to future generations as lessons of the times, something to represent what had been passed through, and which they trusted God to protect them from in future, it- liieant duty done, sacrifices made, and liberty and freedom won. They could put into stone or bronco principles making those who came after them realise what it was to sacrifice themselves for the good of the whole. (Applouse.) ' Tne Hon. G. W. Russell asked Sir James Allen to put in writing his suggestions for war memorials for the consideration of the Conference.

The Mayor of Wellington said that in this city they had already established a scheme for paying fitting tribute to the dead who were buried in the city. A committee of ladies was now assisting in conjunction with the City Council, and they would also erect a fitting memorial.