WHEN BRITAIN STOOD ALONE

Evening Star, Issue 25577, 1 September 1945, Page 8

WHEN BRITAIN STOOD ALONE

ANOTHER MEMORIAL SUGGESTION I'.Z. SHOULD BUILD ONE ROOM 111 NEW COMMONS (Special.) WELLINGTON, Sept, 1. The suggestion made by Mr F. W. Doidge that New Zealand should express its gratitude to " the greatest Englishman of all time," Mr Winston Churchill, by erecting a, monument in the grounds of Parliament Buildings, was referred to by Mr H. E. Combs (Wellington Suburbs) in his Budget speech in the House of Representatives yesterday. Mr Combs said it was a fine proposal, but the war had not been won by one man. The leadership of Mr Churchill had been superior to that of anv other man, but the war had been won by all the people of all the allied nations banding-together to see the tight through to the finish. • Mr Combs srll-that if there was to be a monument it should bfi erected in Britain because of the way she withstood the enemy for 15 months, standing alone, except for the assistance given by'her family of dominions and. colonies overseas. Such a memorial should be erected by the dominions, all of which should contribute to the cost. It was proposed to build a new House of Commons, that great historic building from which New Zealand gained the freedom enjoyed by her, He would like to see New Zealand as one of the dominions take upon herself the pleasant duty of building at least one room in the new structure according to New Zealand ideas. The room, or section of the building, should be constructed of New Zealand materials, with the services of New Zealand workmen. If a room was decided upon New Zealand timber should be used, the design-drawn by a New Zealand architect and, in addition, there should be something included in the design representative of the Maori race. The furniture should bo made of New Zealand woods by New Zealand manufacturers, and the pictures for the walls should be typical New Zealand scenes by New Zealand artists.' Such a memorial would be fitting recognition of the time when England had stood alone against the enemy, and it would also be recognition of the magnificent leadership of Mr Winston Churchill. ,