TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE?

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 87, 9 October 1920, Page 5

TO SEE OR NOT TO SEE?

THE NATIONAL WAR MEMORIAL

PUBLIC KEPT INI THE-DARK.

' Month piles on month—but the people of New Zealand are still kept in the dark aboat the National War Memorial," stated Mr. Stuart Wilson to a Post repoi"ter to-day. "Surely the time has come for aD end of the secret diplomacy about a monument which intimately concerns nearly every household in New Zealand. A committee has worked secretly; it ha.3 presented a report secretly to Cabinet, which has considered the matter secretly, and has deferred the subject for further study. This dark secrecy has prevented the public and press from having the slightest opportunity to review the proposals before a decision is made for the spending of £100,000 of the general taxpayers' money on a monument worthy of the heroic deud. The procedure, so far, is ■ about as unnational as' one could imagine for a great public work. It is a great surprise to me that tho public and the press of the Dominion have allowed themselves to be so absolutely ignored. "How is it that so little interest—as far as an average observer can judge—fa being taken in this project, which should appeal to every man and woman, every boy and girl, of New Zealand? Is the lack of interest due to the weariness of watching and waiting for the secret committee's proposals (which are still veiled]? Is it becauee the various districts (except Wellington) are concerning themselves with local memorials? "Why all the secrecy? When will the people be told something definite in addition to the one solitary definite fact known at present—that the cost will be about £100,000? The Prime Minister has expressed preference for a column, but what 13 the committee's mind on that point and other points (including locality)? " In the House of Representatives four weeks ago, Mr. Massey said that he would like to have a monument visible from all parts of the city and from the sea. It is the belief of myself and many other citizens that the crown of Mount Victoria—easily accessible from Con-stable-street—-offers the best site to meet the view which the Prime Minister expressed on that occasion, but since then. Mr. Massey has shifted to a lower shoulder of the hill. According to a newspaper report, he happened to see such a shoulder- from the harbour, and had • an impression that the shoulder would be worth considering. " If New Zealand allowed itself to be guided by eminent authorities of other countries, there is no doubt that the crest of Mount Victoria,, commanding wide inspiring sweeps of land and sea, would be chosen, but the Mayor of Wellington seems to have set himself against the summit of Mount Victoria. Why? It would be interesting to have the views of the Mayors of other cities on this matter, for Mr. Luke will admit that other Mayors have a right to be consulted about the site of a national memorial.

"It would be interesting, too, to have the opinion of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association, whose members will naturally desire a worthy honouring of their comrades who gave their lives for their country. It, is true that a distinguished soldisr (General Richardson) is a member of the committee, but the association as a whole should have an opportunity to review the memorial proposals before a decision is made. However, returned soldiers, like other members of the public, are in the dark. "With his hands full of coal, butter, taxation schemes, railways, and other things, Mr. Massey may not have much time for speeding-un the war memorial, but somebody should have time. How long will the public continue to tolerate the unnational secrecy and want of speed with the national war memorial?"