War Memorial Stains

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 286, 29 August 1931, Page 9

War Memorial Stains

Sir, —I have never seen such nonsense in print as has been penned about the green stains on the white marble shaft of the war memorial. I have travelled over a good deal of Europe, and have seen the memorials in most of the cities of the British Empire, but I have yet to see a pure white marble statue of anyone or anything which has been up any time at all. Marble does not retain its pristine whiteness under weather coni ditions in a city. Time brings out the stains inherent in the stone itself, and these in turn are affected by the outward effects of the air, the smoke, and the dust of a city—no matter how clean that city may be. . . . The green stains need not worry .anvone. They were noted with equanimity by the sculptor of the bronze horse when he was in Wellington a few months ago, and he said that was all part of the process, which he described as “weather-iCg”_-that is, the process of conforming to conditions as they exist. The staining of the marbles of Venice give her marble halls a dignity and repose which they’* would not possess were one and all pure white. I am amazed at Councillor McKeen suggesting painting the bronze horse. It is as heinous an offence to art as can be imagined, yet nothing is too absurd in this country. Alfred Drury’s fine statue of Queen Victoria in Kent Terrace was once daubed with some sticky brown paint, tor po reason other than it was supposed to “clean it up.” .. .My earnest hope is that Councillor McKeen may be restrained from exercising his enthusiasm for the paint-brush, or that he may be diverted in his intention to the fence of the corporation yards at Clyde Quay.— I am, etc., „„„ CIVIS. Wellington, August 26.