The Evening Star SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1937. KING GEORGE MEMORIAL.

Evening Star, Issue 22572, 13 February 1937, Page 16

The Evening Star SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1937. KING GEORGE MEMORIAL.

When King George V. passed from this life the sorrow that was felt throughout his Empire was profound. To use his own phrase on the occasion of his jubilee, he was just an “ ordinary fellow.” Yet he created an affection for his person that was extraordinary. To perpetuate his memory in a tangible way the Lord Mayor of London opened a fund, and it now amounts to a little more than half a million pounds. In addition gifts of land to the value of more than £IOO,OOO have been received. When the returns showed signs of lagging an ingenious scheme was devised under which those who possessed banking accounts were invited to transfer the odd shillings and pence standing to their credit to the memorial fund. This plan was signally successful, and brought in nearly £200,000. As is invariably the case in matters of this kind, opinions differed widely on the form the memorial should take. In the end a course was adopted that has met with general approval. A monument is to be erected in Westminster, and King George Fields are to be created throughout the country. The two schemes are national in character. It is acknowledged that a right and worthy position for the memorial has been chosen. It is in the heart of the great metropolis which is the very centre of the Empire’s life and activities. The organisers of the fund decided to acquire and demolish the houses surrounding the Jewel House opposite the Victoria Tower of the Palace of Westminster. Subject to the approval of Parliament, the Government agreed to hand over as a free gift certain properties in the area belonging to the Commissioners of Works. The clearing process involves the demolition of two old houses which would be worth preserving if they stood in any other place.

but, as the Loudon ‘Time's’ declares, they must be sacrificed to the larger good by an act which is no more “vandalism” than it was “vandalism ” in the eighteenth century to pull down the- much older and doubtless more picturesque houses that clung to the North Wall of Westminster Abbey from the West End to King Henry Vll.’s Chapel, The real point is that the fittest site has been selected, the money to carry out the enterprise had been subscribed, and it only remains now to hope that the work of the artists entrusted with the design and execution will be worthy ol the occasion.

The other part of the memorial will he the creation of playing fields dispersed among the towns and villages of the country. So far as can be judged at the moment, between £300,000 and £400.000 will-be av ailable for this work, and a great deal should be accomplished with that sum, especially as it is expected that it will be supplemented by gifts of land and money arising from local pride and generosity. This part of the memorial effort is as appropriate, as the other, for King George loved the open air and was always keenly interested in the wellbeing and happiness of youth. Much concern has been exhibited lately about the national physique, in which healthy recreation plays so conspicuous a part, and the launching of the King George Fields scheme is intended to inaugurate a nation-wide effort to raise the health of the people to a higher standard. In New Zealand Air Savage’s idea—and a worthy one—of a memorial to King George was to open a fund for the permanent establishment and maintenance of children’s health camps. The Prime Minister’s suggestion was that a special Coronation stamp should be issued, the profits from which would he devoted to the memorial fund. In the State efforts in the past on behalf of the youth of the Empire attention was concentrated on their mental progress. Now realisation has come that more thought must be given to their physical development.