WAR MEMORIAL

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 175, 12 April 1923, Page 8

WAR MEMORIAL

SOLDIERS’ CLUB OR MONUMENT?

OPINIONS OF RETURNED

ME?f

MR. WHATMAN DONATES £lOOO FOR CLUB

Tho conflict of opinion between a section of the returned soldiers and the War Memorial Committee as to the type of memorial most suitable for Wellington was the subject of several addresses at a rally of returned soldiers in the Town Hall last night, convened by Mr. A., P. Whatman.

About 700 men attended the returned soldiers’ rally at the Town Hall last night.» Colonel T. W. McDonald presided. Mr. Whatman, who was cordially received, said that there were three alternative schemes: — 1. To erect a utilitarian institution as a monument to the fallen. 2. To erect a cenotaph or memorial. ‘ 3. A combination of the two previous schemes.

He counselled them to erect a soldiers’ club, with at least 80 per cent of the money they might, have. It was not desired to come into conflict with tho views of the War Memorial Committee whose interest in the welfare of the returned soldier was to be commended. “Wo appreciate their views, but not their objective,” he said: “This is your last chance to '‘have your wishes carried out. If you don’t express them, tho citizens will 'take it that you have no interest in the matter.” He joined issue with tluo sentiments expressed in a letter to the Press by Mr. J. P. Firth, C.M.G., and the War Memorial Committee, who, ho said;* stressed the fact that Auckland, ChristDunedin, and Invercargill had erected memorials, but did not mention that these centres had erected - soldiers’ clubs and erected them first. The Christchurch soldiers’ club was the best the speaker had ever been in. Was Wellington to to an obiect of ridicule to tho rest of New Zealand? The present soldiers’ club in Wellington was more like a morgue—an insult to dead and living soldiers. He would do his best, in tho way of practical help, if the soldiers and tho War Memorial Committee would shake hands and orect a club worthy of Wellington. (Applause.) , . "Mother of Blighty” makes an Appeal.

Miss Lily Butler. 'C.B.E.. the "Mother of Blighty,” was greeted with three cheers. She pleaded eloquently for a soldiers’ club. She had a message-from many soldiers who went down in the fight, to look after tlieir comrades. How could she do that bettor than by appealing for clubs in which war veterans could foregather, and invite their wives find sweethearts, tho war workers, and tho women who nursed them in.the field? Soldiers were very practical ‘over there ; Jet them bo practical-here and erect something in the nature of a club that would be a permanent practical utility for all time.* In Australia, in the towns where there wore no soldiers’ clubs, the,Diggers had not the touch of gentility that was possessed by those who had the comradeship a club gave them. She reminded them that, in the southern towns, the soldiers summoned the Mayor to the soldiers’ club to give her a civic welcome. In Wellington she had not yet been/ shown the Soldiers Club- (Laughter and applause.) At the termination of her speech, Miss Butler was presented with a bouquet, on behalf of the returned soldiers of Wellington.

A Resolution proposed. Mr. AV. Perry referred to Mr. Whatman as “the man of all men” in New Zealand who had helped the soldier in the field and when he returned. (Applause.) He practically built the Masterton Soldiers’ Club; that work set the seal on his patriotism. Mr. Perry moved: “Thai tliis meeting respectfully requests the War Memorial Committee to reconsider its plans and enlarge its scheme, so that provision may be made in the fund which it is proposed to raise: (1) For the building of a memorial club for service men on tho site of the present Returned Soldiers’ Club, at a cost of . not less than £35,000 ; (2) for the erection of a monument or cenotaph at the Courtenay Place site, provided that the Memorial Club, shall have priority in every respect, and that no steps be taken towards tile erection of the monument until the full' amount required for the memorial club shall have been raised,” Air. Perry said that there were two schools of .thought—the utilitarian and the aesthetic or sentimental. He hoped there would be no clash between them. Air. A. Fair (War Memorial Committee)’: It cannqt.be avoided, if your resolution is carried.

Air. Perry said that, if tho two parties camo together, there need be no clash. He was loudly applauded on expressing the opinion that tho sons of dead soldiers should be allowed membership of the Soldiers’ Chib. If the War Alemorial Committee adhered to its plans, it would, not receive any opposition from him, continued Air. Perry. But he appealed to them to endeavour to get both. (Applause.) The Rev. R. Catherwood referred to the Palatial Chib at Afasterton, and the poorly-equipped club in Wellington, which wan approached by a ladder. Ho claimed that the meeting at which the War Alemorial Committee were appointed was not- representative. . Cheers greeted the statement that Mr. Whatman had £I(XX) to donate to tho fund for a. club house.

An Amendment. Allien the resolution-was being put to the meeting, Air. G. Mitchell. president of tho AVellington Returned Soldiers’ Association, asked leave to move an amendment, as follows:— “That this meeting has every sympathy with the desire for a club, nnd will use every effort to have a worthy building erected on tho present site, in compliance with the terms-of our lease, and we trust that Air. Whatman’s generosity and help will be available; that, in the meantime, wo congratulate the executive on taking the"initial steps to carry out the repeatedly expressed policv of the Returned Soldiers’ Association to piave a. memorial erected.” The chairman refuged tq accept the amendment, which Ho said, .was a direct negative. Mr. Mitchell said that, under tho terms of the lease, the association had to build a new club, and intended to proceed to that work when the tease

expired. That was the policy handed down to him by Mr. Perry, the previous president of tho association; it was unfair now to throw a bomb-shell into tho executive’s camp when they were carrying out the policj* of the executive. Mr. C. A. *L. Treadwell made a spirited appeal for support to the War Memorial Committee. At one stage of his speech a section of tlio'.meeting commenced to count him out. Mr. A. B. Sievwright said that Mr. Mitchell’s impression of tl]e policy of the R.S.A. was wrong; he had no right to speak, for tho association, when his committee had only called three general meetings in a year. He (the speaker) strongly supported the resolution. Mr. Perry: For once in a. while, Mr. ’Sievwright and I agree. (Loud laughter.) Mr. A. Fair also spoke m support of tlie War Memorial Committee. Mr. W. J. Hardham,. V.C., another member of the War Memorial Committee, said that his committee had pledged themselves to assist Mr. Whatman in his purpose. Monuments had been erected at Roseneath, Mitchelltown, Wainui-o-mata, Petone, and Patiautanui, while Brooklyn and Lower Hutt were preparing to erect-monuments to the fallen. Mr. Perry’s resolution was carried 'by a large majority. On the motion of Colonel Hughes a special vote of thanks was passed to the "Mother of Blighty,” who was cheered again and again, and to Mr. Whatman.