WAR MEMORIALS

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 92, 19 April 1920, Page 6

WAR MEMORIALS

FOR NEW ZEALiND

THE PROPOSALS OUTLINED,

The National War Memorials CbmmitI tee has arrived at important conclusions, including the decision that the national 'memorial must be in Wellington.

In the course of a statement, Sir James Allen said that the committee must decide upon the site for the memorial before it coul< say what form-it; was to take. "We cannot ask for designs until we know something about the site and the environment. We had no 1 proposals as to site before us, and we decided to set up a sub-committee, to consist of the Mayor (chairman), Messrs. 3. G. Harkness (chairman of the Harbour Board) W. H. Morton (City Engineer), W Ferguson, and G. Shirtoliffe. The committee also, appointed as delegates fronithe general committee to the sub-committee Sir Edward Chaytor, General Richardson, and the^ Government Architect (Mr. Campbell). This sub-committee has been asked to report within twenty-one days on the question of sites offering. Our object in getting the site settled- first is this : AVhen we decide eventually to ask 'for designs. we must be able to let those who are going to prepare the designs know what site or sites are available, and we shall inform them the sum of money available, and the principles upon which we wish the designs to be based/ These were embodied in the following resolution carried by the committee •; 'The memorials should be so designed as to embody the objects and sacrifices of the war, and the virtues displayed therein, in such a way that fhey will be an education and an inspiration, net only to the present but .to future generations, and so. be oi immenseJnfluence in the formation of the New^Sealand national character.'

"When the sub-committee finds what sites are possible, it must decide which of them, possibly not one only, shall ba selected. Then it will be possible to inform the designers of the nature of the sites, and of particulars in connection with them.

"We dealt also with (3ie battlefield' As this matter stands at present those in authority in the Old Country dealing- with the erection and placing of these memorials have decided that there should be four memorials for the New Zealand Division, two in France and two in Belgium. The sites and the reasons for their selection are described as follow in the memorandum :-—

"Sonime.—Factory Corner. Attack made by New Zealand Division 25th September, 1916.

"Messines.—The Square, Battle of Messines, First Brigade of New Zealand Division.

■ "Ypres.—GravenstafeP Cross Roads. Attack on 4th October, 1917, New Zealand Division.

"Le Quesnoy.—Capture of Le Quesnoy by New Zealand Division.

"In addition to these four memorials there is to be one memorial on Gallipoli and one in Palestine, but the sites of these are not yet determined. The members of the committee were not quite satisfied about tfie selection of the Somme site, and they have authorised me to interview the Home Committee, and endeavour to secure a site between Belville Wood and High Wood, on the highest contour overlooking Flew. The committee resolved that the memorials on all battlefields of the New Zealand Division should be uniform—the same design for each site. Cabinet will be. asked what money will he available, and then designs will be called for. A special committee was aoijointed to deal with this matter of calling for designs; the Hon. Mr. Coates, Majof-General Sir Andrew Russell, Major-General Sir Edward Chaytor, Brigadier-General Richardson, Mr. Seddon, M.P., and the president of the Returned Soldiers' '■Association. ' The committee is free to /call for designs in New Zealand or abroad."

The Minister added that the committee ha-d in its possession a number of interesting photographs obtained by Mr. Hurst' Seagar, of all memorials iii Great Britain. Mr. Hurst Seagar had asked that thes« be sent round New Zealand as an exhibit to let the" people kn6w what had been done in Britain. The memorials photographed differ greatly in character, including as they do memorial windows, natic-naJ memorials, illuminated rolls of honour, monuments in war cemeteries, memorial crosSes in the South Kensington Museum, and the Cenotaph at Whitehall. Mr. Hurst SeagaT had not yet been to the Continent, and he intended to send other photographs from there. He mentioned in his letters, howerer, that Britain fed all other belligerents in this matter, and that very little had been done on: the Continent yet.