WAR MEMORIAL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17064, 8 February 1921, Page 6

WAR MEMORIAL.

REPORT OF EXECUTIVE. ) A pubis." nice tins was held in tho City Council Chambers last night to receive tho report of the executive and discuss matters in connexion with the war memorial. The Mayor presided. There wa? nil attendance of over 30, including several ladies. The following teport from tho executive was read: — At the last meeting of tho General Committee it was definitely decided that tho war memorial for t hristchurch should take a twofold character, iii.. n Bridge of Remembrance in Cashel street, and a Memorial Column, if possible, in Cathedral square. Both these propositions had been before the ciiiiens through the efforts of separate committees, and some considerable canvassing had been done by both or camsat ions, and promises totalling a ben:. £SuOO had boon secured. After conference and consultation, a fusion of , tho parties was arrangod. and your ex- J oeutivo were charged with the duty of making a united appeal for tiie joins Tf objects as the citv's memorial to their /i honoured dead, 'llio value of a war me- 'J morinl lies not only in its fitness as a 1 tribute to those who arq gono. but in ' 1 its living influence and inspiration for ' thoso who remain. It has therefore been decided to inseriho on the bridge V tho names of t'he chief engagements and 1 on the column tho names of all those who obeyed the high mandate which took them from homo and friends, and ulho laid down their lives for liberty, that it may bo a call to all of us to make that sacrifice effective by unflinching devotion to tho ideals for which they died. Tho city was divided into blocks, and a thorough canvass was mado of each soction, with the result that tho amount originally promised has boon just about doubled. The executive feel that while this euro is totally inadequate as an expression of tho city's admiration for its noble sons who gave "their all," it may b? considered fairly satisfactory when itis remembered that tho inception of any effort was so long delayed, and When commenced was not a 'United"appeal." Moreover, they dovoutly bono that a much larger srnn may bo finally forthcoming. Tho canvass "referred to having been confined to tho city only, they feol suro tfliat there are numbers of citizens who live in the suburban and rural areas who are not touched by a city canvase, who would be glad" tc have a share in this public expression of perpetual remembrance of our heroic dead. To such, your executive make s, strong appeal, and urge everyone that can to send in promises spread oreit one or two years. Further, when tho time comes to make a start with the j actual erections themselves, ire hope a further incentive may be given to i the movement, and a consequent au£- - mentation of funds ensue. In coacfoa- • 1 ing its report the executive make the following recommendations:—(a) That strong representations be made to the «| City Council urging upon them either § to place upon tlhe estimates for tho cur- ] rent year a sum sufficient to erect tho undor-structure of tho Bridge of Re- , membrance in Cashel 6treet, or to give ! the War Memorial Committee an undertaking that when the necessary permitand material can bo obtained, it will do that part of the work, (b) That a com'mitteo be appointed to invite competitive drawings and designs, with rough estimates of oost, for tb<i Bridge of Remembrance (superstructure) and r the Memorial Column, and td bring up a report and recommendations to tho i General Committee. (c) That when the General Committee come to a decision re designs of Memorial Column, -- applications bo made "to the City Council for its permission to erect the suae in Cathedral square. i The Rev. S. Lawry asked when it I was decided that the Column ahoulti f be in Cathedral square. i The Mayor said that it had been de- i cided by the committee that the City Council should be again approached for permission. j: Mr Lawry contradicted this, and sate 1 that there had been no mandate froa , the General Committee «s to when / the Memorial Column should be. Mr George Gould said he would not ! 'like it to be finally affirmed that all the names of the dead soldiers should be inscribed on the Column. It would not bo possible to record all the names upon the column, but they could be recorded inside the column. He would like the word "within'' substituted for "on," with reference to the inscription of fallen soldiers' names.. It was agreed to make an alteration in the report in accordance with the suggestion by Mr Gould. The report was then adopted. The treasurer presented the following statement of the Memorial Fond account up to February 7th: — Bridge Coiwna Fond. Furd. • £ a. d. £ f. i Cash received ' .. 320616 6 3741 1 0 Less expenses .. 8306 16 C 3713 17 3, Promised .. 1059 14 6 1311. 0 0 £4266 11 0 ■ £5023 17 3 £ «. d. Total cash received .. H"831219 Less paid out 373 1? S . 10,414 IS • Total piamiaea M l(> 7 3 1 £14,025 2 10 Total—Bridge, £6633 18s 3d; Column, £7391 4s 7d. All those present were appointed a committee to wait on the City Council next Monday night, to support as suggested by the executive in ita report: Messrs A. F. Carey, R. M. Macdonald.t and J. Wyn Irwin were appointed as the spokesmen far the deputation. Mr G. L. Donaldson intimated that he could not continue to act as secretary. The appointment of a secretary was left to the executive. It was decided to appoint an executive, consisting of 12 members- to carry tho memorial proposal thJougi to its completion. Therfc were 13 nominations for tiie Designs Committee, and the following were elected, on a ballot, it having been deSided that this committee should be limited to seven members: Messrs James Jamieson, George Gould, Andrew Anderson, A. F. Carey, J. - Irwin, H. Holland, and J. W. Beanland. ... The following, with, the addition oi * the Designs Committee, were appointed aa the Permanent Executive: Messrs R. M. Macdonald, A. C. Reed. A. Borrows, Rev. S. Lawry, D. E. Button, H. W. Palmer, Geo. Harper, Mrs JW. Irwin Mrs A. Anderson, and Mis George Hanmer, with the Mayor and the Town Clerk cx-officio. Mr J. W. Irwin said he would like to see placed on record the appreciation of the outgoing executive for the liberal and willing manner in which the business people had responded to the call for subscriptions,' and he would also like to thank those employers who had allowed lists to be presented to their employees. . The retains from one or two firms had not yet been received. In looking through the subscription lists it was surprising to find that the number of persons who had so far contributed was under 2000. in spite of the fact that the electoral rolls for the city and suburbs showed that there were over 50,000 adults. One of the reasons why the total amount subscribed was not larger was that it waa impossible, on account of the small band of canvassers, to approaoh all who might have contributed. A motion was passed expressing appreciation of the work of tne preliminary executive, and thanks to those whe had subscribed to the Memorial Fund-